The Youth Forum of West Northamptonshire Council convened on Wednesday, 12 June 2024, to discuss the ongoing issue of county lines and to brainstorm ideas for a social media campaign for Youth Day. The meeting included a detailed presentation by the police on county lines, followed by a group discussion on effective social media strategies.

County Lines

The police provided an in-depth presentation on county lines, explaining how criminals exploit young people to sell drugs. They described how children are befriended either online or offline and then coerced into selling drugs via a mobile phone line. The police highlighted the risks involved, including targeting primary school children and the severe repercussions for those who fail to meet gang demands.

The presentation included tips for dealing with peer pressure and recognising signs that someone might be involved in county lines. These signs include hanging out with new and older friends, skipping school, unexplained injuries, and acquiring new clothes or expensive items like a PS5. The police also discussed the importance of anonymous reporting methods like Fearless.

Nicola shared a video on county lines, which received mixed feedback. While the message was considered good, the video was deemed too long and somewhat disjointed. Florence raised a question about the repercussions for young people who fail gang tests, to which the police responded that such individuals are often moved on to avoid drawing attention.

The police emphasised that young people involved in county lines are treated as victims of grooming, although they may be handcuffed during initial interventions. They also discussed the complexities of when a young person transitions from victim to perpetrator, especially if they begin grooming others.

Rod shared personal cases he had been involved with, noting the significant impact on families. The next Independent Advisory Group (IAG) meeting will focus on discrimination and hate crime.

Action Plan

The forum then shifted focus to planning a social media campaign for Youth Day. Members discussed various types of campaigns that catch their attention, including stills, videos, reels, and stories. They also considered the effectiveness of tags, contests, and good graphic design.

Topics discussed included racism, sexism, peer pressure, and online racism. The group debated the leniency of schools in dealing with these issues and the importance of consequences and learning from mistakes. They also touched on disability access in transport and the potential for workshops and interactive sessions as alternatives to social media campaigns.

The meeting concluded with a brainstorming session on slogans and the use of platforms like TikTok and WhatsApp for notifications and engagement.

For more details, you can refer to the Minutes of Previous Meeting and the Public reports pack 12th-Jun-2024 16.30 Youth Forum.