Harrogate author Christina Gabbitas at Rossett High

Harrogate author Christina Gabbitas has been has been delivering sessions about county lines exploitation for part of County Lines Intensification Week in Harrogate schools at the request of North Yorkshire Police.

Christina visited Rossett High, Harrogate High, and St John Fisher RC School.

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Since 2019, Christina has conducted thorough research on county lines exploitation and related criminal activities, which included conversations with victims and their families.

Christina said: “From my experiences over the past six years, I firmly believe that it is vital for police forces to establish strong connections with schools. Proactive education is far more effective than reactive measures ‘picking up the pieces.’  

"The reality is that the criminals behind these operations are always evolving their tactics to exploit vulnerabilities. They will always find new ways to take advantage. Sadly, children are going missing everyday due to exploitation. If we can help just one student in each session, we will have achieved something positive.”

Her work was commissioned by North Yorkshire and Humberside. She developed a series of stories that illustrate the harrowing journey of a group of friends who fall victim to grooming and exploitation through county lines. Their story encompasses a tragic stabbing, the burden of drug debt, a cuckooed home, and a character who goes missing and imprisoned in a trap house. These narratives aim to help students grasp the intricate issues surrounding this topic.

Adam Norton, National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC). “It is critical that we work to prevent children from being exploited into involvement in County Lines, and the associated violence and abuse that accompanies it.

"To do this effectively we need to ensure that children, teachers, parents, carers, and safeguarding professionals, are supported to recognise indicators of exploitation, and understand the significant harm that criminal gangs seek to hide from those they exploit. Christina’s work provides a firm foundation, helping schools, and the wider community, to build resilience to this destructive form of drug supply."

With 14 years of writing experience, Christina shared insights into the three commissioned stories, No More Knives  or County Lines, Trapped in County, and Missing, discussing the extensive research that guided her work, and emphasized the collaboration she has had with North Yorkshire Police, Humberside, and policing teams from Lancashire, West Yorkshire, and Newcastle.

Mark Bulmer, assistant head at Rosset High, said: “We really value the work that Christina has done and does to help get the message across coming from a different and creative perspective around safeguarding and county lines.

"We know it’s a huge and important topic, whilst we as a school use our own measures to ensure we give students as much information as we can its always important and useful to have external speakers like Christina.”