The County Lines phenomenon has become one of the most significant drug market developments in the UK over recent years. This book analyses how it is being responded to by the police in affected provincial areas. Drawing on unique ethnographic fieldwork, it takes readers into police stations and out onto the streets with officers, providing timely insight into the policing of this high profile and challenging drug market context. The book considers the use of new police tactics that have been proposed and familiar methods that officers regularly embarked on. Through a sophisticated theoretical framework it argues that the policing of County Lines can often be considered ‘symbolic’, with concerns regularly placed on sending out strong messages that appear superficial when closely examined. Alongside this, however, there appears to be a progressive shift towards a more pragmatic drugs policing approach that embraces harm reduction principles.This cutting-edge research speaks to academicsin Criminology and Policing, and to practitioners and policy makers.

“Policing County Lines is a tour de force for understanding the intricacies of this evolving phenomenon and provides the reader with admirable insight into its origins, the fuller context in which it operates and the ways forward for future policing approaches and wider management partnerships. A must read for anyone wanting to understand complexity around policing in the current age” (Ross Coomber, Professor of Criminology and Sociology, University of Liverpool, UK)

“Jack Spicer makes an original and valuable contribution to the growing literature on county lines drug dealing in particular and, more generally, the literature on drug markets, drug policy, organised crime, policing and criminology. Spicer subjects an impressive 14 months of ethnographic fieldwork to well-balanced and rigorous analysis. The book offers valuable insights into how the county lines drug supply model operates, and is understood by law enforcement, while exploring how a harm reduction framework can limit drug market harms. This impressive book is essential reading for anyone interested in drug markets, drug policy, policing, organised crime and gangs” (James Windle, Lecturer of Criminology, University College Cork, Ireland)

“Jack Spicer’s book is a thoroughly engaging, enlightening and enjoyable read that makes an original and important contribution to the literature on policing, drug markets and drug policy, as well as criminology and criminal justice more generally. It is beautifully written, deserves a wide readership and will be of interest to academics, policymakers and practitioners working in these areas. If you only read one book on County Lines, make it this one” (Matthew Bacon, Lecturer of Criminology, University of Sheffield, UK)

Makes a timely contribution to the high-profile issue of County Lines Draws on unique ethnographic data Analyses the policing styles, tactics and methods put in place to respond to County Lines Theoretically considers ‘symbolic policing’ and the application of harm reduction principles to drugs policing

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