A growing number of girls and young women are being identified as victims of county lines exploitation, according to recent data from Catch22, the charity delivering the national county lines support service. In 2025, females constituted 22% of the charity’s caseload, a significant rise from 15% the previous year. This trend underscores the urgent need for a more nuanced understanding of how gender affects the exploitation of vulnerable individuals in the criminal landscape.
Increasing Awareness of Female Victims
The data from Catch22 reflects a troubling reality in the ongoing battle against county lines drug trafficking, where gangs often exploit young people to transport drugs from urban centres to rural areas. The charity is actively collaborating with the government to enhance its efforts in dismantling these criminal networks. Launched in 2019 and sustained through successive governments, the county lines programme aims to disrupt these operations and protect those at risk.
However, Catch22 has expressed concern that the prevalent understanding of county lines exploitation tends to overlook the experiences of girls and young women. Marike van Harskamp, head of policy at the charity, highlighted the inadequacy of current support services, stating, “There is a very gendered understanding of criminal exploitation and county lines that it only concerns boys. This often means girls are not properly identified.”
The Complexity of Female Involvement
Van Harskamp elaborated that girls’ pathways into criminal exploitation are often more intricate than those of their male counterparts. Many become victims through what is known as the “boyfriend model,” akin to child sexual exploitation, where they are groomed under the guise of a romantic relationship and subsequently coerced into criminal activities, such as drug trafficking.
The statistics reveal a stark disparity in support received: while roughly half of the boys referred to Catch22’s service were assisted by the National Referral Mechanism—an initiative aimed at aiding victims of modern slavery—only about one in six girls received similar support. This imbalance raises critical questions about the effectiveness of current interventions and the urgent need for gender-sensitive approaches.
Government Response and Ongoing Challenges
Despite the alarming rise in female victims, the government has reported progress in curbing county lines operations. In 2025, law enforcement dismantled a record 2,740 county lines, leading to the arrest of 1,657 gang leaders and the seizure of 961 knives. The government plans to invest over £34 million in its county lines programme this year, reinforcing its commitment to tackling this pervasive issue.
Yet, as van Harskamp warns, the success in numbers does not fully encapsulate the gravity of the problem. “Our service sees children as young as seven being groomed,” she stated. This highlights the pressing need to reframe county lines exploitation as a form of child abuse, with far-reaching consequences for mental health and long-term life prospects.
The Role of Social Media in Grooming
The modern landscape of grooming has significantly shifted, with social media platforms like Snapchat becoming key tools for gangs to target vulnerable individuals. Van Harskamp noted that factors such as mental health issues, substance misuse, unstable living conditions, and unsafe peer relationships increase the susceptibility of young people to exploitation.
“The earlier the risk is identified, the better,” she emphasised, stressing the long-lasting mental health repercussions stemming from trauma experienced during exploitation. There is a notable correlation between poor mental health and barriers to education, training, or employment, leading to diminished life opportunities and social mobility.
Why it Matters
The rising identification of girls as victims of county lines exploitation calls for a fundamental shift in how support services approach this issue. Acknowledging the gendered nuances of exploitation is essential for developing effective interventions and safeguarding the futures of vulnerable young individuals. As society grapples with the complexities of modern crime, ensuring that all victims receive equitable recognition and support is not just important—it is imperative for the protection and empowerment of future generations.
