This is episode three of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing from The Times and The Sunday Times first published in March.
Children aren't just running drugs for county lines gangs - sometimes they're running the lines themselves.
Today The Sunday Times's northern editor David Collins talks to the police officers who worry laws designed to protect victims of exploitation might actually encourage gang leaders to promote teenagers into higher positions in their criminal organisation.
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Read more: Drug gangs swamped York. This is how police stopped them | I was a county lines drug runner. I tried to quit, then I was stabbed
Watch: School-age kingpins: why children now hold the key to county lines
Host: David Collins
Producers: Kate Lamble and Taryn Siegel
Executive producers: Tim Walklate and Dan Box
We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com
Photo: Getty Images.
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