Hi there everyone, my name is Ms. Shaw.

I'm really pleased you're joining me today for this lesson on County Lines.

So in this lesson, we're going to focus on what is meant by the term County Lines and how we can recognise signs of gang exploitation or coercion and how we can report or seek help or concerns in relation to this.

Now this lesson does cover sensitive topics and therefore we do recommend checking with a trusted adult before starting, or doing the lesson with a trusted adult nearby.

For this lesson, you are going to need an exercise book, or some paper, and a pen, and of course our brains.

Now, hopefully you've already completed your intro quiz.

So firstly, we're going to be looking at definitions of gangs and County Lines, we are then going to go to be looking at recognising early signs of gang exploitation and coercion.

Then, we'll looking at how we can seek support and report any concerns we might have.

And finally, you'll be looking at the key learning points and completing your exit quiz.

So, just to recap on some prior learning, two of the key words listed below were covered in previous lessons.

I would like you to pause here while you read through them and choose the correct ones, then, come back when you've completed.

So were you correct? So we've covered coercion in previous lessons which is persuading someone to do something using force or threats.

And grooming which meant building a connection with a child or a young person with the intention of manipulating or abusing them.

Now the other two, which were gangs and County Lines, we're going to be focusing on in today's lesson.

So the key words that we'll need to know for today's lesson are that exploitation refers to using or treating someone unfairly for your own advantage and gain.

Coercion means persuading someone to do something using force or threats.

Drug trafficking is where vulnerable young people are used by criminals to network and supply drugs into smaller, rural areas.

And County Lines is the term you used to describe the mobile phone network which is used to distribute these drugs.

So in this first section, we're going to look at what gangs are, why people join them, and what some issues might be relating to joining gangs.

Now, spending time together with mates and getting to know each other and sharing interests and hobbies can be really good and positive, but it can become very dangerous if you join a gang that gets involved in crime.

So I'd like you to pause here for a few minutes just to think about why you think people join gangs.

So jot some ideas down and then come back when you've completed.

Well, how did your answers compare with mine? Well, according to ChildLine, young people join gangs for many reasons.

Now some of them include that it can make them feel like they're members and part of something, and they are protected from bullying or from other gangs by being a part of another gang.

Fitting in with friends and other gang members and having the same interests as other people like sports or music.

Perhaps feeling respected and important and gaining status and feeling powerful.

And sometimes making money from crime or drugs is a reason why someone might want to join a gang.

Now I'd like to read these options, I want you to think about which ones of the following statements about gangs is false.

So pause here and choose the incorrect answer and then resume when you've chosen an option.

Now were are you correct? Well, being in a gang is not against the law.

Some gangs are involved in crime, and drugs, and violence, and other illegal activities, but being in a gang can affect your future in a very negative way.

Now, not all groups are gangs, and it's fine to go out with groups of friends, but you need to be aware of what you might look like to other people.

So if you're doing nothing wrong then there's no need to worry, but you need to make sure that you are aware of how you might come across to other people by engaging in certain behaviours when you're in groups with mates.

So for example, don't trespass and go onto other people's property, don't shout-out, or intimidate, or make gestures, or behave in a way that could potentially be threatening to other people.

If somebody starts to goad you or you worry of other groups of people, just walk away, and maybe go and report that behaviour to a trusted adult or someone that you know.

And it's always a good idea to let people know where you're going in the first place, so let someone, an adult, a trusted adult, know where you're going if you're going out with groups of friends.

Now some gangs are involved in illegal activities, including crime, drugs, and violence.

I want you to pause here to look at the statements below and choose which of the following are problems that you think are associated with illegal activities in gangs.

Now, if you end up being part of a gang like this, it can be very dangerous.

So did you get them right? If you are part of a gang, it can affect your future in a very negative way.

You might be unsafe and you could be threatened, you could also be controlled by other gang members.

Potentially, your family and friends might be threatened, and you're exposed to dangerous situations where you might end up getting into fights with other gangs.

You might be forced to do things that you don't want to do and you might be given gift and then have these used against you as a way of coercing you into behaviours that you don't want to engage with.

People are not going to like you more by you being part of a gang and you can end up getting into a lot of trouble with the law.

So speaking to a trusted adult can really help.

People join gang for many reasons, including to wanting to fit in and to feel respected and important.

Do you think this is a true or false statement? Just pause every few seconds while you consider that.

I'm hoping you chose the true option.

Other reasons include having the same interests and hobbies, wanting to feel powerful and gain status, and being protected from bullying by other gangs, and also making money from crime and drugs like we mentioned earlier.

So in this next section we'll be focusing on recognising early signs of gang coercion and investigating more about County Lines.

According to the National Crime Agency, County Lines is where illegal drugs are transported from one area to another, often across police and local authority boundaries, usually by children or vulnerable people who are coerced into it by gangs.

And the County Line is the mobile phone line that's used to take order of the drugs.

Now a common feature in County Lines is that young people, or sometimes vulnerable adults, are exploited by drug dealers so that they can avoid the police and get into trouble with the law.

And in some cases, the dealers even take over people's property and to use that property for their criminal activities.

Now, young people who are exploited like this are quite often trafficked to areas a long way from home.

Like we've seen in the case of child sexual exploitation, young people often don't see themselves as being victims and they don't realise that they've been groomed or coerced into things.

So it's really important that we stay alert and play our part in making sure that we speak up about any concerns that we've got.

So what I'd like you to do here is to pause and think about how you can tell if it is happening in your area.

So pause now, make a list of suggestions, what sorts of things would you looking out for? Pause now and then come back when you've completed your list.

So how did your answers compare with mine? Well, there might be an increase in new visitors or cars to a house or flat, there might be substance misuse and evidence of drug paraphernalia scattered around, there could be new or regularly changing residents and who have different accents compared to the local accent, there might be unexplained injuries or sometimes unexplained unaffordable gifts and new things lying around like jewellery or clothes.

A young person might have a change in mood or demeanour and they become secretive, or withdrawn, or aggressive, maybe emotional.

And changes in the young people the way that young people might dress might be another sign.

Also, some young people might go missing for long periods of time, or they might seem unfamiliar with your community or where they are.

There might be a lot of truancy or exclusion or disengagement from school and an increase in antisocial behaviour in the community.

You might also see young people being seen in different cars and taxis driven by unknown adults.

Now I'd like you to take a second just to look at these following statements and think about County Lines and see what, which one you think might be false.

So pause here for a few seconds and read through and choose which option you think is false.

Are you correct? Well, tackling County Line is a priority for UK Law Enforcement and there is a multi-agency approach in place to help tackle County Lines.

And as we've said before, children often don't see themselves as being victims or that they've been groomed into criminal activity.

So if you have any concerns about County Lines, it is not best to keep quiet and stay out of it.

Now, nobody's saying you should go and tackle and confront people yourself, but if you've got any concerns, do you make sure that you report it or pass it on to a trusted adult.

So in this last section, we're going to look at how people can seek support and report any concerns about gangs or County Lines that they might have.

Leaving a gang is not always easy.

Now I'd like you to make a list of any suggestions that you can think of which could help you do this safely.

Pause here, make a list, and come back when you've compiled it.

Now how did your answers compare with mine? Well, for a start, you could try and find some friends who are not in gangs and try and spend less time with the gang.

You could also try to avoid places where you know that the gangs might be.

Try and find new hobbies or focus on things that you enjoy, like music, or sports, or reading, dancing.

Try and speak to a trusted adult, so a family member that you trust or teacher or youth worker or somebody you know will have your back and that you can rely on.

You can also contact Gangsline on the internet for free advice and support from ex gang members.

And if you or anyone else is in immediate danger you can dial 999 for urgent help from the police.

Now what I'd like to do now is to pause the video here to complete a peer of advice sheet aimed at highlighting what County Lines is, the dangers of joining a gang, and how you can get help and support.

So pause now to complete the activity and then return when you've completed.

Now the key learning point from this lesson, are that joining a gang can be dangerous and have long-term lasting effects on your life.

There are many ways that gangs and criminals can control vulnerable and young people.

And it's important to be able to recognise the signs of County Lines and to report concerns because getting appropriate help and support is absolutely vital.

So what I'd like you to do now is to pause the video to complete your exit quiz.

To check the understanding of the content of this lesson and the overall unit.

Well done on completing the final lesson in this unit.

Really enjoyed working with you and I look forward to seeing you again sometime soon, bye for now.