Facts. An older man Kai owes money to asks him to keep a bag at home and bring it to a car park later. Police find 150g of cannabis in small bags.
What the law says. Holding drugs to give back or pass on can be possession with intent to supply (Maginnis).[35] But there are strong signs of exploitation: debt, an older controller, delivery tasks. CPS guidance describes county lines runners as "invariably children... groomed with money and gifts".[2] Section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 gives a defence to a person under 18 who committed the offence "as a direct consequence" of being a victim of slavery or relevant exploitation, where a reasonable person in the same situation with the same characteristics would have done the same. Drug offences are not on the Schedule 4 excluded list.[36] Where s.45 does not fit, prosecutors must still consider the public interest and duress (CPS County Lines guidance).[11]
| If… | Then… |
|---|---|
| Exploitation identified early | National Referral Mechanism referral; possible no prosecution |
| Charged | s.45 defence raised (evidential burden on defendant)[36] |
| Convicted, adult guidelines used as a reference | Lesser role ("Engaged by pressure, coercion... grooming") |
| The adult who used him | Statutory aggravation for using a person under 18 to deliver drugs; possible modern slavery offences[11][16][17] |
Myth. "If I'm not paid, it isn't dealing." Supply needs no payment.[3]
What to do and help. Ask for a solicitor and an appropriate adult, and tell the solicitor about any threats or debt. Childline (0800 1111); NSPCC (0808 800 5000); Fearless.org; Modern Slavery Helpline (08000 121 700).