Liverpool student’s poem lands top 3 in national competition highlighting dangers of County Lines exploitation

A national competition targeted at young people to write a poem or song to highlight the dangers of being exploited by County Lines drugs gangs has seen a pupil from Holy Family Catholic High School in Thornton, Liverpool, awarded for her creative writing.

Grace, a 13-year-old student at the school, was very thankful to have earned third place out of the entrants.

Headteacher, Mr Symes, and Mrs Danielle Moore, Year 9 progress leader, said: “This is such a fantastic achievement.

“We are very proud of Grace, who truly captured the essence of these important issues; we couldn’t be prouder of her creative work that will help to raise awareness about county lines exploitation.”

Writer and honorary member of the NSPCC Council, Christina Gabbitas, who organised the initiative commented: “We had 41 judges, from policing to youth workers.

“It was rewarding to receive so many entries from all corners of the UK. I’ve organised initiatives previously, but this has been the most rewarding to date. All entries were amazing and that’s why I wanted to showcase the work. Grace’s poem was my personal favourite.”

Christina has spent years working with police forces, schools, and other agencies to educate young people, teachers, parents, and carers on how to spot the signs of grooming and exploitation.

This can lead to young people being coerced by gangs to transport and deal drugs, ultimately becoming trapped in debt bondage, where exploiters use threats and violence to control them and force them to do more work.

The gangs are usually part of larger organised crime groups from major cities who move into towns and rural areas across county borders and groom young people into transporting, storing, and dealing drugs on their behalf.

Deals are carried out using mobile phones, the so-called ‘County Lines’. Often, vulnerable young people and adults may have their properties taken over by the gangs to store drugs, known as ‘cuckooing’.

Christina said: “Since I began my work on the issue of County Lines, I have spoken to many people who have had first-hand experience of how criminals exploit our young people.

“I have spoken to parents who are in desperation after seeing their child trapped by these gangs. It’s vital that we get the message across early and raise awareness with young people of how they can become trapped, and what may seem like a friendship at first, quickly escalates into something more sinister which can take their life down a destructive path.”

Anne Rannard, protect lead for the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre (NCLCC), who was on the judging panel, said: “I’m really pleased that Christina created this initiative. This was a fantastic opportunity for young people to project their voice in writing about the destructive nature of county lines criminality. It is not a glamourous lifestyle; in-fact, the realities are quite a stark contrast.

“I had the opportunity to read some fantastic poems that portrayed the dark nature and exploitation that occurs. The NCLCC was set up to tackle county lines criminality, by coordinating activity across policing and with partners.

“It’s important that we engage children and their parents and carers, so that they understand the dangers and can be on their guard to prevent exploitation.”

The NCLCC plays a pivotal role in policing’s approach to county lines. Its mission is to prevent county lines and the associated violence and exploitation of vulnerable adults and children.

The competition followed an earlier animated story and video by Christina titled ‘Trapped in County Lines’, and asked young people to write a poem or song to highlight all that can be associated with County Lines exploitation.

Entries were judged by a panel of 41 judges from all corners of the UK; from poets, various ranks in policing, young people, and people with lived experience of County Lines.

 The top sixty poems/songs will be published in a special book that’s to be published on UNESCO World Poetry Day on the 21 March 2025. Grace and all published authors will receive a free copy of the book that will also be available to purchase, with £2.00 per book sale donated to NSPCC Childline.

 More information can be found here.