By Elaine Glover.
In 2006, ‘Redeeming Our Communities’ (ROC) was launched at the NEC World Prayer Center Conference by Debra Green MBE, Pastor of Ivy Cottage in Greater Manchester.
Debra’s dream was to foster safer, kinder, and more resilient communities with a sense of ownership by facilitating community engagement and supporting children and families struggling with addiction, poverty, mental health, and various social problems.
Christians deliberately lived in deprived areas such as Swinton Valley, engaging in community work alongside the Christian Police Association, local councils, and the church. They worked together to create safer and stronger communities by breaking the cycle of crime and being the embodiment of Jesus’ teachings. My late husband Nigel (who suffered from muscular dystrophy) and I felt a prophetic calling to these initiatives. We purposely moved to Braunstone Frith, a deprived estate in Leicester, to be ‘salt and light’ in a spiritually dark area. We engaged with the community, working alongside New Parks Police, New Parks Council, and Kingdom Faith Church in Braunstone.
We took children and their parents to local parks, the seaside, and Sunday school to build positive relationships of trust and respect. Each year, we organised street parties with free food, bouncy castles, and stalls. The police played penalty shoot-outs with the kids, and the New Parks Fire Brigade let children use their hose and explore the fire engine. The council provided health information and drug addiction pamphlets, while ex-offenders, ex-prostitutes, and ex-addicts shared their testimonies of transformation through Jesus. This support and shared life experiences helped reduce the crime rate by 40%. The kids had something to do, felt engaged, and experienced love and value. (Photo – Elaine Glover, founder of ROC)
Twenty years later, I am calling the Church, the Christian Police Association, and local councils to action. We must use this blueprint to bring ‘light and salt’ back into communities with the same vision as Nigel and Debra Green of ROC, as our young people are being stolen by violent gangs known as ‘County Lines.’ and many children have been expelled and no longer are at school or take part in home school using their spare time to travel up and down the country on trains and buses transporting drugs.
County Lines activity is some of the most violent and exploitative criminality that fractures communities and ruins lives. These gangs groom children as young as seven, offering expensive gifts and calling them family to exploit their difficult home situations. They sexually exploit these children, take naked photos, and threaten to share them on social media. They create situations where children believe they owe money, forcing them to transport drugs to various destinations. These children become modern-day slaves, known as drug mules, and often become addicts themselves. They use simple mobile phones to coordinate drug deliveries and carry weapons such as knives. They travel alone, disappear for days, and stay in homes taken over by gangs through violence and intimidation, known as ‘cuckooing.’
We see signs of County Lines involvement through children traveling alone during school hours, carrying multiple phones, large amounts of cash, and displaying anxious or frightened behavior. They may also carry weapons, have bruises and wounds, and cause trouble at school, leading to expulsion. This activity is happening all over Britain, with 90 per cent of police stations having encountered County Lines and dealing with all the issues that involve children, parents and the community.
County lines gangs are a serious issue, exploiting vulnerable young people to transport drugs across regions. Local churches can play a crucial role in steering kids away from these dangerous paths. Here are some ways churches can take action:
- Community Outreach Programmes: Churches can organise events and activities that engage young people in positive ways, providing them with safe spaces and constructive activities.
- Education and Awareness: Hosting workshops and seminars to educate both parents and children about the dangers of county lines gangs and how to recognize signs of grooming and exploitation.
- Partnerships with Local Authorities: Collaborating with schools, police, and social services to create a network of support for at-risk youth.
- Mentorship Programs: Establishing mentorship programs where older, trusted members of the community can guide and support young people, offering them positive role models.
- Counselling and Support Services: Providing access to counselling and support for young people who may already be involved or at risk of becoming involved in gang activities.
- Advocacy and Policy Change: Churches can advocate policy changes that address the root causes of youth involvement in gangs, such as poverty, lack of education, and limited job opportunities.
By taking these steps, believers can help create a safer and more supportive environment for young people, steering them away from the dangers of county lines gangs and towards brighter futures.