Welcome to Learn on the go, the podcast from Community Care Inform, where we discuss the issues affecting social workers and social care practitioners. This episode looks at county lines and child criminal exploitation. Discussing this is Adam Elliott, founder of The Long Game, a youth-led intervention to reduce young people’s risk of exposure to these forms of modern slavery. Adam uses his lived experience to highlight how children and young people are groomed, exploited and manipulated into county lines. At about 1 hour and 20 minutes, this is an extended edition of Learn on the go but we feel it is justified. Adam’s story is hard-hitting and, at times, difficult to listen to but it is full of information and tangible red flags that have to be heard to be understood. We realise that it’s a commitment on your part to sit with his story to the end but you will find learning points all the way through. If you’re finding it difficult to listen to, you may want to take a break and come back to it. We’d like to remind you to practise self-care and use supervision and peer support if you’ve been affected by this episode. Questions were asked by Natalie Valios, senior content editor, Community Care Inform Adults. 00:01:45 – Life before county lines 00:03:44 – Stereotypes and vulnerabilities 00:06:52 – Being groomed 00:08:53 – Dropping off the first package 00:13:13 – Early warning signs 00:14:59 – How county lines operate 00:23:13 – A community problem 00:25:52 – Asking for help 00:27:52 – Trap houses 00:34:51 – Hope of escape 00:38:40 – Facing prison 00:42:57 – Knife and chemical attacks 00:48:53 – Victim of modern slavery 00:51:27 – Parents’ suspicions 00:54:39 – Arrest on 18th birthday 01:01:44 – Missing out on life 01:07:51 – Contextual safeguarding 01:10:07 – Family support 01:11:20 – Importance of knowing the slang 01:13:55 – Misconceptions 01:18:08 – Crime and Policing Bill 01:19:18 – Life nowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.