In a north London classroom, three girls tentatively raise their hand. Each, aged 13 and 14, has just admitted that they have already been targeted by criminals trying to groom them into so-called “county lines” drug-dealing gangs.
None of them is ready to share the full details of their encounter with the recruiters, which typically includes knives, threats against their families or playground tricks which see children targeted by bullies, only to be saved by an influential gang member who will take them under their wing.
