Eyes Open is a campaign to raise awareness about the growing issue of child criminal exploitation and county lines.
County lines refers to the networks criminal gangs use to distribute drugs from cities to smaller towns and rural areas.
These operations rely heavily on the exploitation of children and young people to transport and sell drugs across different locations. Once the child is dependent on the gang, they are coerced into criminal activities, often with threats, violence and manipulation. Families and loved ones of the child are also threatened.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of child criminal exploitation and county lines, by educating young people, their parents and carers, about the dangers of grooming, exploitation, and the deceptive tactics used by county lines gangs.
Since it’s launch in 2020 by Merseyside's Violence Reduction Partnership in partnership with the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU), Eyes Open has been co-developed by Merseyside Police and partners across the North West in Greater Manchester, North Wales, and Lancashire and Kent and Medway Violence Reduction Unit.
The campaign highlights the predatory nature of gangs and how they groom children through gifts or a sense of belonging. It also empowers parents and young people to recognise the signs of exploitation and where they can go to for support.
Campaign resources show how there is always a catch to ‘free’ gifts like designer clothes, vapes or expensive bikes.
The campaign was developed through extensive research, focus groups, and lived experience case studies, ensuring it accurately represents the diverse experiences of those affected.
Each police force involved in the campaign carries out dedicated county lines operations to disrupt criminals and safeguard victims of exploitation. Since 2019, police forces closed more than 5,600 lines nationally and referred 8,800 individuals to safeguarding services.
The police treat all children involved in county lines as potential victims and work with a range of partners to put safeguarding measures in place to get exploited people out of harm’s way.
Eyes Open supports the work of police and partners by raising awareness of county lines, encouraging communities to spot the signs and be more informed to help break the cycle of exploitation and grooming.
If you believe that someone may be being exploited in this way, you can give information 100% anonymously to Crimestoppers, an independent charity. Crimestoppers is not the police. Anonymous means your identity is completely unknown.
If you think someone is in immediate danger, always dial 999.
