Best of: On the line - the loophole

最佳选择:在线上——漏洞

The Story

2026-08-19

38 分钟
PDF

单集简介 ...

This is episode three of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing from The Times and The Sunday Times first published in March. Children aren't just running drugs for county lines gangs - sometimes they're running the lines themselves. Today The Sunday Times's northern editor David Collins talks to the police officers who worry laws designed to protect victims of exploitation might actually encourage gang leaders to promote teenagers into higher positions in their criminal organisation. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory Read more: Drug gangs swamped York. This is how police stopped them | I was a county lines drug runner. I tried to quit, then I was stabbed Watch: School-age kingpins: why children now hold the key to county lines Host: David Collins Producers: Kate Lamble and Taryn Siegel Executive producers: Tim Walklate and Dan Box We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com Photo: Getty Images. This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
更多

单集文稿 ...

  • Hi, it's Manveen.

  • This year, the Home Office's County Lines programme has cracked down on more drug dealers than ever before.

  • So how have they done it?

  • And what are the problems, sometimes set out in the law itself,

  • that allow vulnerable victims to get caught up in the web of these gangs?

  • This week, we're rerunning our investigative series from earlier this year, On The Line.

  • In part three today, and if you haven't heard the episodes before this, do go back and have a listen.

  • We'll hear from the police about what needs to change in the law.

  • Here's my colleague, the Sunday Times Northern editor, David Collins.

  • From the Times and Sunday Times, this is the story.

  • It's October 2023. Police officers are patrolling the east of Leeds when they spot someone in a balaclava.

  • It's autumn and a bit cold, but this, this is suspicious.

  • Figure starts to run before they duck into a shop and remove the disguise,

  • only to be turfed out immediately because shop staff recognise him.

  • In fact, he's already been banned.

  • 18-year-old Solomon Samrari is arrested.

  • Police find roughly 400 pounds of crack cocaine and heroin on him.

  • And a phone which they will later tell the court shows clear evidence of drug dealing.

  • He admits supplying Class A drugs and is sent to a young offenders institution.

  • Fast forward just over a year to January 2025, and once again...