Kids as young as 13 held for dealing Class A drugs in West Yorkshire
It comes as experts warn of the growing problem of 'county lines'
Radio Aire can exclusively reveal children as young as 13 have been arrested in West Yorkshire for dealing Class A drugs.
Figures we’ve got hold of show West Yorkshire Police have arrested nearly 250 under-16s for drug offences since 2013.
It comes as experts warn nationally, thousands of kids are being groomed by criminal gangs and used as drugs mules in a crime known as county lines.
“County lines unfortunately is something that’s on the increase,” says Marks Burns-Williamson, Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire.
“This is criminal gangs exploiting young people to carry drugs, and even linked to human trafficking. We have to disrupt and tackle this head on. In West Yorkshire we are trying to do that, but we know this is a national issue.”
The Children's Society says thousands of children are being exploited by criminal gangs and trafficked across the country. The charity has had reports of it happening in all parts of the UK, with children living in poverty most at risk.
The adults groom the children, then use threats, violence or sexual abuse to control the