Northallerton School students warned of County Lines gangs

Christina, who has been working with North Yorkshire Police since 2021, was commissioned by the force to write the sequel story Trapped in County Lines, which sees one of the characters lose their life through a stabbing. Another remains missing at the end.

She spoke to students at Northallerton School about the issue of County Lines, in which children are befriended and exploited by criminals in order to traffic drugs.

Christina said: "Having conducted sessions with the schools liaison team using my story 'Trapped in County Lines,' it has become clear that many students are unfamiliar with the concepts of debt bondage and cuckooing. I have heard numerous heart-breaking stories that shed light on the dark realities of County Lines.

"I strongly believe that face-to-face early intervention work is essential in every school to address these issues.”

A spokesperson for Northallerton School added: "Christina's sessions go beyond the pages, providing students with a first-hand understanding of critical issues like exploitation and County Lines.

"This approach not only empowers students to make informed decisions but also fosters open dialogue, creating a supportive environment for addressing concerns about county lines."

Christina is continuing to work with North Yorkshire Police utilising her story with accompanying animation with early intervention sessions.

Sergeant Heidi Lewis, head of the schools liaison team at North Yorkshire Police, said: “Our team has welcomed the working partnership with Christina which has had a huge benefit in sessions. We commissioned Christina to write the sequel to the first story due to its positive impact.

"The story is written in a way that engages the students, making it impactful and age appropriate.”