Hollyoaks links up with the Children’s Society for county lines story

The teen drama, set in Chester, is to highlight the issue, where gangs from cities exploit vulnerable children and adults in rural areas and suburbs and force them to distribute and traffick drugs.

The children’s charity has been working with the show’s writers and researchers on how to present the impact of the practice on children and their families. This draws on the charity’s experience of working with young victims of criminal exploitation.

The show’s cast have also met with the charity to ensure county lines is being treated sensitively and also to ensure that younger cast members are comfortable with the issues involved.

In 2020 @Hollyoaks will explore the serious issue of child criminal exploitation.

The chance for us to advise writers & cast of #Hollyoaks ensures the story will show the terrifying reality of exploitation 💔https://t.co/AXsqSnYM0D pic.twitter.com/ix8EYIYwDp

— Children's Society (@childrensociety) November 29, 2019

“Day in day out we see the devastating impact that criminal exploitation and grooming of children through county lines operations has upon young lives,” said Children’s Society chief executive Mark Russell.

“These criminals groom children into trafficking their drugs for them with promises of money, friendship and status. Once they've been drawn in, these children are controlled using threats, violence and sexual abuse, leaving them traumatised and living in fear. 

“This can happen to any child in any community and we applaud the bold move by Hollyoaks to shine a light upon this serious issue by bringing it to a fictional suburb of what is seen as a relatively affluent city.”

He added: “It’s really important to raise awareness of these very real dangers among children, parents and the wider public, and support everyone in spotting the signs of child criminal exploitation.” 

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The Hollyoaks plot will take place over the course of a year and feature characters such as Juliet, played by Niamh Blackshaw, and Charlie, portrayed by Charlie Behan, being groomed as part of a county lines network.

Meanwhile, their parent’s fears around the children’s safety will also be highlighted.

Last month a report by EU Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and Europol highlighted the dangers vulnerable people, including teenagers, face from county lines exploitation.

This includes gangs targeting young drug addicts, who are forced into dealing in exchange for drugs or to pay off debts.

There are around 2,000 county lines networks in the UK, according to the National Crime Agency, and children as young as seven are among the victims, says the Children’s Society.

A £36.6m police unit was set up to tackle county lines earlier this year and a £1.8m research project to better support victims has also been launched.

The Hollyoaks plot will also feature themes including the dangers of knife crime, said the show’s executive producer Bryan Kirkwood.

“County lines child exploitation is terrifying and every month the writers come in telling stories of their children’s schools on lock-down, or weapons being confiscated. It’s in the news and in our court systems,” he said.

“We want young people and parents to know the signs and what to do if you think it’s happening to your child or someone they know.”