A Practical Guide to County Lines, Human Trafficking and Exploitation

A practical guide to legal professionals on the topic of county lines, with a particular focus on the criminal law implications for individuals involved in cases of human trafficking and exploitation. The development of the law in this area, particularly since the passing of the Modern Slavery Act in 2015, is both interesting but also necessary knowledge for any practitioner instructed in a county lines case.

There are chapters providing an overview of county lines operations, a breakdown of the criminal offences that arise out of county lines investigations, guidance on the potential defences available for victims of exploitation and the relevant sentencing principles and ancillary orders. The author sets out the various practical issues faced by those instructed in county lines cases with the aim of assisting practitioners at every stage of proceedings.

CONTENTS

Part One - Overview of County Lines

1. What Is 'County Lines'?

2. How Does the 'County Lines' Operation Work in Practice?

3. How Are Individuals Exploited in 'County Lines' Operations?

4. How Do the Organisers of the Drugs Line Maintain Control Over Exploited Individuals?

Part Two - Criminal Offences in County Lines Cases

5. Human Trafficking

6. Supply of Drugs

7. Money Laundering

8. Possession and Use of Weapons

Part Three - Representing Victims of County Lines Exploitation

9. The Non-Punishment Principle

10. Is There a Reason to Believe That the Individual Is a Victim of Trafficking or Slavery?

11. Is There Clear Evidence of a Credible Common Law Defence of Duress?

12. Is There Clear Evidence of a Statutory Defence Under Section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015?

13. Is It in the Public Interest to Prosecute?

Part Four - Sentencing in County Lines Cases

14. Sentencing Principles in 'County Lines' Cases

15. Ancillary Orders in 'County Lines' Cases