Outdoor Spaces

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drug gangs have been on a "recruitment drive" in Lockdown , for the benefit of needy children and, increasingly, girls, according to a report

they are maintained to carry drugs because they are unknown, so the police, The National Youth Agency says.

Social Media and "unsafe Outdoor Spaces " will be used to recruit.

The Children 's commissioner for England warned schools and Youth clubs closed, thousands of vulnerable Young People had "simply gone off the radar".

"Lockdown removes many of the usual ways to identify the risk that children are exploited by gangs," Anne Longfield added.

The National Youth Agency-report on the responses of the Youth workers on site, The First detailed investigation of drug gangs in Lockdown .

It was to the government.

"There is increased concern about the use of girls for gang activity," she says, because they find it easier to move, during Lockdown .

Youth worker Rob Farrow

In Bristol, where The Children Make Up almost one-fifth of the population 65 were identified as "highest risk of criminal exploitation".

In an abandoned Adventure Playground , in Hartcliffe, South of The City , lead Youth worker Rob Farrow remembers, before the Lockdown was implemented on 23 March, a safe place full of Young People .

"as soon as you walk through the gates, you know 100% that you are safe," he says.

"It is you, the moment is to relax and the Kids without fear that they will be exploited in a gang.

"What is it, maybe, by the crime statistics, everything down

gone"in fact, the reality of way is to those who are in danger now, more in danger.

"And those who are not At Risk now in danger.

"What we have seen, is introduced to young women by their Young Male colleagues to get involved in criminal activities, we had not seen before.

"The worst is not, because we do this work, we can't see these children.

Street-based Youth workers, Joe mystery and Omari Cato

Mr Farrow colleague, Joe mystery says: "now We see Young People in such areas, the hotspots were never involved in [crime]".

Another Youth worker, Omari Cato, says: "These are very fragile heads that don't understand that they are cared for.

The National Youth Agency chief executive Leigh Middleton said: "Covid-19 brought Youth help in many areas to an abrupt halt, just The Time it is most needed.

"Without direct access to a Youth worker, we fear a rise in violence and exploitation in post-Lockdown . "

meanwhile, the police has used to make new tactics 87 phone lines used to sell drugs.

But 800 to 1,100 remain active.

"We need to design The Ability , these lines, the" Metropolitan Police Service Commissioner Cressida Dick said.

"We will work to limit who is necessary to The Ability of individuals to this activity and destroy The Business model of the county lines completely. "

drug use, drug legalisation, coronavirus lockdown measures, county lines drugs trade

Source of news: bbc.com