A Practical Guide to County Lines Human Trafficking and Exploitation

<p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>A practical guide to legal professionals on the topic of county lines with a particular focus on the criminal law implications for individuals involved in cases of human trafficking and exploitation. The development of the law in this area particularly since the passing of the Modern Slavery Act in 2015 is both interesting but also necessary knowledge for any practitioner instructed in a county lines case.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>There are chapters providing an overview of county lines operations a breakdown of the criminal offences that arise out of county lines investigations guidance on the potential defences available for victims of exploitation and the relevant sentencing principles and ancillary orders. The author sets out the various practical issues faced by those instructed in county lines cases with the aim of assisting practitioners at every stage of proceedings.</span></p><p></p><p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>CONTENTS</strong></p><p></p><p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Part One - Overview of County Lines</strong></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>1. What Is 'County Lines'?</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>2. How Does the 'County Lines' Operation Work in Practice?</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>3. How Are Individuals Exploited in 'County Lines' Operations?</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>4. How Do the Organisers of the Drugs Line Maintain Control Over Exploited Individuals?</span></p><p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Part Two - Criminal Offences in County Lines Cases</strong></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>5. Human Trafficking</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>6. Supply of Drugs</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>7. Money Laundering</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>8. Possession and Use of Weapons</span></p><p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Part Three - Representing Victims of County Lines Exploitation</strong></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>9. The Non-Punishment Principle</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>10. Is There a Reason to Believe That the Individual Is a Victim of Trafficking or Slavery?</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>11. Is There Clear Evidence of a Credible Common Law Defence of Duress?</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>12. Is There Clear Evidence of a Statutory Defence Under Section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015?</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>13. Is It in the Public Interest to Prosecute?</span></p><p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Part Four - Sentencing in County Lines Cases</strong></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>14. Sentencing Principles in 'County Lines' Cases</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>15. Ancillary Orders in 'County Lines' Cases</span></p><p></p>