Data released by Catch22, a prominent charity providing national support for victims of county lines exploitation, reveals a troubling rise in the number of girls and young women being identified as victims. In 2025, they constituted 22% of the charity’s caseload, a significant increase from 15% in the previous year. This alarming trend underscores the need for a more nuanced understanding of the issue, as the charity calls for a reevaluation of the frameworks used to address such exploitation.
Rising Identification of Female Victims
The statistics from Catch22 indicate a growing recognition of the plight of young females caught in the web of county lines exploitation. Traditionally, the narrative surrounding these crimes has predominantly focused on male victims, leading to a systemic oversight of the experiences of girls. The charity’s ongoing collaboration with the government aims to combat the county lines phenomenon, which has seen gangs transporting drugs from urban centres to rural areas through dedicated phone lines, often at the expense of vulnerable young people.
Marike van Harskamp, Catch22’s head of policy, emphasised that existing perceptions of criminal exploitation need to evolve. “There is a very gendered understanding of criminal exploitation and county lines that it only concerns boys,” she stated. This misconception often leads to inadequate support for girls, with only one in six receiving assistance from the National Referral Mechanism, compared to nearly half of the boys.
The Complexity of Female Exploitation
The pathways leading girls into county lines exploitation are often more complex than those of their male counterparts. Van Harskamp explained that many young women become victims through what is known as the “boyfriend model.” In this scenario, they are groomed into believing they are entering a romantic relationship, only to find themselves coerced into illegal activities such as drug transportation. This parallels the dynamics of child sexual exploitation, illustrating the need for a comprehensive approach to address the issue.
The government has reported significant progress in dismantling county lines operations, with 2,740 lines closed and 1,657 gang leaders charged in 2025 alone. However, van Harskamp contends that efforts must extend beyond enforcement. “Our service sees children as young as seven being groomed,” she remarked, advocating for a reclassification of county lines exploitation as a form of child abuse. Recognising the potential long-term trauma associated with such experiences is crucial for effective intervention.
The Role of Vulnerability and Mental Health
Catch22 has identified that the grooming of young people for county lines exploitation often occurs via social media platforms, such as Snapchat, where gangs target individuals with additional vulnerabilities. Factors such as mental health issues, substance misuse, and unstable living arrangements significantly increase the risk of exploitation.
“The earlier the risk is identified, the better,” van Harskamp warned, highlighting the lasting mental health impacts stemming from such exploitation. The correlation between poor mental health and barriers to education, training, or employment has far-reaching consequences, hampering social mobility and life opportunities for affected individuals.
Ongoing Law Enforcement Commitment
Det Supt Dan Mitchell, who oversees the national county lines coordination centre, reiterated that tackling this issue remains a top priority for police forces across the UK. He noted that as the tactics employed by county lines gangs evolve, so too must the policing strategies. “We remain committed to pursuing high-harm county lines and those controlled by violent drug dealers, to prevent harm and protect vulnerable individuals,” he affirmed.
Why it Matters
The increase in female victims of county lines exploitation is a stark reminder of the need for a more inclusive and compassionate approach to addressing youth criminality. As society grapples with the complexities of gendered experiences in exploitation, it is imperative that support services adapt to meet the unique challenges faced by young women. Failing to do so not only endangers individual lives but also perpetuates cycles of abuse and neglect, undermining the broader fight against organised crime. Recognising and addressing the specific vulnerabilities of girls within this context is not merely a matter of policy; it is a moral imperative that demands immediate action.
