In the Herald, today, the above and:
and:
Nowhere in this report is the question ‘Why is there an increase?’ even considered never mind answered.
The answer is in existing MSM reports:
First, there is a huge surge in child exploitation – carrying drugs in body cavities and sexual abuse – by English county lines drug gangs in Scotland
From Human Trafficking NRM referrals re county lines – 10yrs published by Police Scotland today, that ‘referrals made by Police Scotland to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) where county lines and suspected criminal exploitation was a factor‘ was:
Under 16 year-olds – from 6 in 2020/2021 to 39 in 2025/2026, almost a seven-fold increase.
16-17 year-olds, from 16 to 65, a four-fold increase.
What forms does that exploitation take?
County lines refers to a violent, exploitative model of illegal drug distribution in the UK, where urban gangs and organised criminal networks export drugs (primarily heroin and crack cocaine) into other areas using dedicated mobile phone “deal lines.” A core feature is the exploitation of children and vulnerable people to handle the risky, visible parts of the operation (transporting, storing, and selling drugs and money), allowing higher-level criminals to remain at a distance. This is officially recognised as child criminal exploitation (CCE), a form of child abuse. It often overlaps with modern slavery/trafficking and can include elements of child sexual exploitation (CSE). Children as young as 12 (sometimes younger) are targeted; the activity may initially appear consensual due to grooming, but victims cannot consent, and they remain victims even if they commit offences under duress. https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-abuse-and-neglect/county-lines
Second, Child Soldiers – How ruthless English drug gangs are recruiting hundreds of Scots kids for crime
The Sun, yesterday has the above, but holds back from identifying this as a problem deriving from the activity of county lines drugs gangs based in England. We know they are.
Third, Children used as drugs couriers by English ‘county lines’ gangs increase in record numbers
In the Daily Record 29 June 2026:
The numbers of children being ruthlessly exploited by ‘county lines‘ drugs gangs are at record levels, the Daily Record can reveal. County lines operate where criminals from major cities have expanded their trafficking operations into smaller towns often in rural areas.
Organised crime groups have been known to use children as mules to transport the drugs long distances or to store or guard them. Shock figures released by Police Scotland under Freedom of Information (FOI) show a sharp rise in the numbers of children falling victim in the last six years.
In the 12 month period from April 2020 to March 2021 there were six cases of children under the age of 16 being ‘county line’ victims. However that number had risen to 39 in 2025/26. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/shock-rise-children-being-used-37353759
The Record is careful to avoid any mention of England or to name the ‘major cities’ but their choice of expert, Michele Janes of Barnardos (above) reminds me of this from BBC Scotland in March 2026:
Charity workers have raised concern about the number of vulnerable youngsters in the Highlands being targeted big city drug dealers from England. Barnardo’s staff say they’re being exploited and threatened by County Lines drug gangs in Inverness. The charity runs the Anchor project in the City, which is trying to help tackle the problem. Police reckon 12 organised crime groups are operating in the Highland capital.
BBC Scotland, in their BBC breakfast insert this morning, with a second only explicit mention of where the County Lines drug gangs are from.
I must say, I’m puzzled by this openness after 7 years of refusing to say ‘England’ in drug gang reporting, especially as we approach an election. Are they hoping they can contain this in one place?
Talking-up Scotland has reported on English drug dealers operating in Shetland, Thurso, Wick and Tarves in Aberdeenshire.
We’ve reported on them in Dumfries and in Auchinleck. There seem no reason to think they are not now, after, nearly a decade, everywhere, in your town.
In October 2025, The National Police Chief’s Council reported:
Covering the period from April 2024 to March 2025, the latest County Lines Strategic Threat Assessment found that there are over 6,500 County Lines in operation across England, Scotland and Wales. https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/annual-county-lines-report-threat-remains-stable-but-business-model-used-by-perpetrators-continues-to-evolve
From their County Lines Strategic Threat Risk Assessment also in October 2025:
County Lines is the supply of drugs at the retail end of the market, where violence and exploitation are an intrinsic part of the model. These lines continue to impact the entirety of England, Scotland and Wales.….The top impacted forces (importer) this year are Cheshire, Kent, Northamptonshire, Scotland and South Wales.
So, 6 500 over the country, Scotland more impacted by the trade than some other parts and 12 in Inverness alone? At least 600 probably more county lines across Scotland?
Another plague? Covid, Measles, Meningitis, Used chip fat theft, Reform UK…..the case for border controls?
Finally, why is the Lib Dumbs claim above nonsense?
There has been a massive but unreported reduction in the number of children on the child protection register in Scotland and a widening gap with the other 3 nations
From the Scottish Government, 25 March 2025:
On 31 July 2024, 2,129 children were on the child protection register, representing a 3% increase on 2023 (2,077) and a 26% decrease on 2014 (2,877).
During the year, 3,167 children were registered onto the child protection register, representing a 2% decrease on 2022-23 (3,234) and a 31% decrease on 2013-14 (4,622). https://www.gov.scot/publications/childrens-social-work-statistics-child-protection-2023-24/
These are massive reductions in only 10 years and must indicate major socio-economic changes determining the numbers of children at such risk that they require to be placed on the child protection register.
Looking at the very different rates in the 4 UK nations, we must recognise that different legislative frameworks will reduce the comparability to some extent but the enormous scale of the difference, approaching twice as many children, pro rata in the other 3 nations, surely requires further explanation. It’s hard to imagine that this widening gap does not indicate also rather more fundamental causes such as the differing levels of poverty, of child poverty, of crime, of youth crime, of affordable housing and so on, which are a consequence of cumulative Scottish Government policies such as the Child Payment, the bedroom tax compensation, better resourcing of policing, schools, housing and hospitals.
Were the figures the other way round, as with drug deaths, we can be sure the Scottish media and opposition parties would be quick to lay responsibility for the increased number on this register at the door of the SNP Government.
We know that poverty, especially child poverty is significantly lower in Scotland, that rents and council tax are lower too. We know that there are more home visitors, nurses, midwives, doctors, teachers and police officers, per head in Scotland. We know that there have been far fewer days lost to industrial action to reduce the effectiveness of public services especially health. We know that crime generally but in particular violent crime and drug abuse among the young has fallen dramatically in Scotland. All of these trends and, no doubt, others have created a better world for the poor in Scotland, sheltered at least in part, from the full force of Tory austerity felt in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
I don’t doubt the reasons for this widening gap between Scotland and the other 3 nations will be caused by more than just the above factors and more complex in their interplay but there can be no doubt it has not arisen by chance. That there are far fewer children requiring to be on the child protection register in Scotland is due, at least in part to the efforts of the SNP this last 18 years.
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