Covid-19, county lines and the seriously “left behind”
Journal of Children's Services
ISSN: 1746-6660
Article publication date: 23 September 2020
Issue publication date: 15 December 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to suggest how the Covid-19 lockdown may affect illicit drug users and vulnerable children and young people who become involved in County lines drug dealing.
Design/methodology/approach
This is an “opinion piece” based on data released by central and local government departments and voluntary sector sources concerning the impact of the Covid-19 restrictions on illicit drug users and vulnerable children and young people. The data is augmented with information from recent discussions with police officers, youth workers and social workers in a London borough.
Findings
It appears that the Covid-19 restrictions have had, and will continue to have, a deleterious impact upon both illicit drug users and the young people caught up in County lines drug distribution.
Originality/value
The study’s originality lies in its attempt to use a range of sources to anticipate the consequences of the Covid-19 restrictions on illicit drug users and vulnerable children and young people.
Keywords
Citation
Pitts, J. (2020), "Covid-19, county lines and the seriously “left behind”", Journal of Children's Services, Vol. 15 No. 4, pp. 209-213. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCS-06-2020-0024
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited