This brief sheds light on evolving drug markets and the county lines phenomenon in the British context. Drawing upon empirical research gathered in the field between 2012-2019 across two sites, Scotland's West Coast and Merseyside in England, this book adopts a grounded approach to the drug supply model, detailing how drugs are purchased, sold and distributed at every level of the supply chain at both sites. The authors conducted interviews with practitioners, offenders, ex-offenders and those members of the general public most effected by organised crime. The research explores how drug markets have continued to evolve, accumulating in the phenomenon that is county lines. It explores how such behavior has gradually become ever more intertwined with other forms of organised criminal activity. Useful for researchers, policy makers, and law enforcement officials, this brief recommends a rethinking of current reactive policing strategies.

Autorentext

Robert McLean is a criminal justice lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland. As well as making a number of media appearances, McLean has also published widely on the topics of gang/group offending, (dis)organised crime, drug harms, and criminal desistance. 

Grace Robinson is Programme Leader of Criminology at Blackpool and the Fylde College. Grace has recently completed a PhD researching gangs, Child Criminal Exploitation and County Lines, at Edge Hill University.

James Densley is Professor of Criminal Justice at Metropolitan State University and co-founder of The Violence Project. He has received global media attention for his work on street gangs, criminal networks, violence, and policing. Densley is the author of two prior books, including How Gangs Work (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013), 40 refereed articles in leading social science journals, and over 50 book chapters, essays, and other non-refereed works. He earned his DPhil in sociology from the University of Oxford.

Inhalt

Part I

Chapter 1. A Tale Of Two Research Sites

Glasgow and West Scotland

Crime and Drug Harms

Data Sources and Methods

Merseyside

Crime and Drug Harms

Data Sources and Methods

Chapter Summary

Chapter 2. County Lines In Context

Child Criminal Exploitation

County Lines

Cuckooing

Chapter Summary  

Part II

Chapter 3. Illicit Drug Markets Today****

The Rise of the Modern Gangster

Cornering an Evolving Market

Changing Course

Adopting a Professional Ethos

I'm Professional, not a Thug

Evolution Continues

Chapter Summary 

Chapter 4. Working County Lines

Location, Location, Location

Setting Up Shop

Networking

Cuckooing, incentives, advertising, and dealing

Transportation and Trafficking

Extra-Legal Governance

Chapter Summary

Chapter 5. Negotiating The Victim/Offender Nexus

Dealers or Victims?

Earning a wage

Working off debts

Wall of silence   

Organised Criminals or Getting by?

Chapter Summary

Part III

Conclusion

Discussion of Findings

Research Limitations

Implications for Policy and Research