Primary School Children Taught to Recognize Gang Exploitation in 'County Lines' Lesson A primary school in Somerset is teaching children as young as nine how to protect themselves from gang exploitation in the 'county lines' drug trade, using props like fake knives and Kinder Eggs to hide drugs. The lesson highlights the growing threat of online recruitment by gangs, which now target children through social media platforms like Snapchat and TikTok. With over 6,500 active county lines across the UK, the problem is spreading rapidly, leaving children vulnerable to exploitation. In a quiet primary school classroom in Somerset, an unsettling lesson unfolds on a sunny Wednesday afternoon. The children, aged nine and ten, are still learning to read and write, their desks adorned with drawings of rainbows and animals. Yet, the teacher’s bag contains not crayons or storybooks, but a mobile phone, a vape, rolled-up banknotes, a fake knife, and an empty Kinder Egg—props for a lesson on protecting themselves from gang exploitation. The Kinder Egg, innocuous in appearance, can be used to hide drugs like crack cocaine, a reality far removed from the children’s world of playground scooters and daffodils in bloom.The headteacher later reveals that even younger children, in Key Stage One, are being drawn into criminal networks without understanding the consequences. This is the stark reality of 'county lines,' a term for gang networks that traffic drugs from cities to towns, often using children as couriers. The problem is growing, with over 6,500 active lines across England, Scotland, and Wales, exploiting at least 27,000 young people, including 4,000 in London alone.The school has partnered with Escapeline, a charity dedicated to preventing the grooming of children by gangs, to educate pupils about the dangers. Meanwhile, in Dagenham, East London, 17-year-old Dyllan shares his experience of being recruited into county lines at just 14. Dressed in a spotless tracksuit and puffer jacket, he describes how children as young as ten are being lured into the trade through social media platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok.Gang members use group chats and direct messages to target vulnerable children, offering money or gifts in exchange for carrying drugs. The ease of online recruitment has accelerated the spread of county lines, with features like Snap Maps revealing a child’s exact location. Charity workers warn that children with large online friend networks may unknowingly accept messages from strangers, making them easy targets.The problem is not just confined to urban areas; it is spreading to towns like Bridgwater, where middle-class demand for drugs fuels the exploitation of young people. As the criminal model evolves, police, parents, and policymakers struggle to keep up, leaving children increasingly vulnerable to a hidden but growing threat