Professor John Robertson OBA

Recent reports and discussions in Scotland have highlighted the infiltration of drug-related gangs from England into Scottish towns and cities, often involving knives or other weapons. These groups are primarily linked to “County Lines” operations—a model originating in English urban areas where gangs exploit vulnerable people (e.g., addicts) to store and sell drugs in remote locations. While Scottish gangs exist and contribute to violence, multiple sources point to English-based groups as a distinct issue, expanding northward to evade police crackdowns and tap into new markets. This has fueled concerns about rising drug deaths and localized violence in places like Aberdeen, Inverness, and smaller villages.These English gangs are typically described by their accents (southern or midlands English, not Scottish), demographics (often young white men from cities like Liverpool, London, or Birmingham), and tactics (taking over “cuckooed” homes, carrying knives for protection or intimidation). Below, I’ll summarize key reports, drawing from news, academic research, and social media discussions up to October 2025. Note: While knife crime is a broader issue in Scotland (e.g., historic razor gangs in Glasgow), the English accent element specifically ties to cross-border drug networks.

Key Examples from Reports

Location	Date/Period	Details	Source Type
Aberdeen	August 2025 (multiple incidents)	English drug gangs from unspecified southern cities occupied homes in the city center to sell potent, low-cost drugs (e.g., synthetic opioids). Locals reported groups of young men with English accents intimidating residents and carrying knives. One day saw two separate takeovers, contributing to high drug deaths despite Scotland’s harm-reduction efforts. Police linked this to County Lines expansion.	News (Press & Journal via Talking Up Scotland)
Inverness	Ongoing, reported November 2024–2025	Gangs from Liverpool, Birmingham, and London have targeted vulnerable flats in the Highlands. Perpetrators described as white English men with non-Scottish accents, using knives in turf disputes or to control “deal lines.” A TV documentary highlighted how these groups exploit remote Scottish locations for drug storage, leading to violent evictions by locals.	TV (Highland Cops series) & Social Media [post:35]
Small towns/villages (e.g., East Lothian, rural Aberdeenshire)	2024–2025	Academic research confirms County Lines as an “exclusively English phenomenon” plaguing Scottish rural areas. Gangs transport drugs from England, sell locally, and arm themselves with knives. Interviews with gang members noted English accents among “collectors” from afar. This model differs from traditional Scottish youth gangs, which focus on local rivalries.	Academic (Law Society of Scotland Journal, July 2025)

Broader Context and Evidence

• Scale and Impact: Scotland’s drug death crisis (highest in Europe) is partly attributed to these imports. A 2025 report estimates nearly 100 organized crime groups operate in Scotland, with 61% in the west but growing rural presence from English networks. Knives are common in 11% of violent crimes, often tied to drug enforcement.
• Why English Accents Stand Out: Sources emphasize accents as a key identifier—gang members from England don’t blend in, leading to tips from locals. This contrasts with native Scottish “young teams” (e.g., in Glasgow’s Pollok or Drumchapel), which use balaclavas and local slang but are less tied to cross-border drugs.
• Police Response: Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce targets these groups, with successes like dismantling a Liverpool-linked network in 2024. However, experts call for harder borders and more proactive policing.
• Misinformation Note: Some viral videos (e.g., a 2025 Glasgow clip [post:22]) claim “immigrant” involvement, but evidence points to white English groups. A debunked case involved a Scottish teen girl wielding an axe against tourists, misreported as anti-migrant vigilantism [post:26].

These reports are substantiated by a mix of journalism, research, and eyewitness accounts, though direct accent mentions often come from community tips rather than official logs. For real-time updates, monitoring Police Scotland alerts is recommended. If you’re in an affected area, contact Crimestoppers anonymously.

Grok AI 16.10.25

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