“Record year” for County Lines enforcement

The government has announced a record year for County Lines enforcement, with new figures showing more drug lines shut down, more gang leaders charged and more knives seized than at any point since the national programme began.

According to data released by the Home Office, 2,740 County Lines were closed in 2025, alongside 1,657 gang leaders charged and 961 knives seized. Since the election, the totals rise to 3,785 line closures, 2,175 gang leaders charged and 1,229 knives removed from circulation. Officials say the results reflect the impact of sustained investment and a more coordinated national policing approach.

County Lines operations target the criminal networks that run drugs from major cities into towns and rural areas, often using violence and exploiting children to transport drugs and weapons. The government’s County Lines Programme funds intelligence‑led policing, targeted raids, drug seizures and the permanent shutdown of the phone lines used to run the networks.

The Home Office says the programme has contributed to a 25% reduction in hospital admissions for stabbings in key exporter areas, preventing more than 800 stabbings each year.

Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said the results show “more criminal lines shut down, more gang leaders busted and more dangerous knives seized than ever before”, adding that the government “will not rest in the relentless pursuit of these horrific criminals”.

The announcement comes ahead of the launch of the government’s new 10‑year plan to halve knife crime, Protecting Lives, Building Hope, which will focus on early intervention, youth support and tougher enforcement.

To build on the latest results, ministers confirmed £34 million in new funding for the County Lines Programme this year, including £28 million for policing. The investment will support continued disruption of drug networks and safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults at risk of exploitation.

Charities and frontline organisations welcomed the renewed focus. Catch22, which delivers the national County Lines Support Service, highlighted the growing number of younger victims and the increasing exploitation of girls and young women, stressing the need for long‑term, trauma‑informed support.

The latest figures follow the most successful County Lines Intensification Week to date, held in March, during which police forces across England, Wales and Scotland closed 355 lines, made 2,180 arrests and safeguarded 1,348 people in just seven days.

Further legislative changes are planned through the Crime and Policing Bill, including a new offence of child criminal exploitation and new powers to tackle practices such as “cuckooing” and internal drug concealment.

Officials say the combined measures will give police stronger tools to dismantle organised crime groups and better protect children and vulnerable adults from harm.