Abstract
The interconnecting dynamics of economic, political, and technological fractures exert a profound influence on the educational landscape for children and young people, adopting an environment where criminalised-employment, drug culture, and social disorganisation become desensitised. Such normalisations perpetuate adverse societal consequences, impacting society and businesses on a broader scale. The phenomenon of county lines not only undermines the fundamental pillars of social cohesion but also obstructs the cultivation of skilled, productive workforces essential for sustained economic growth and development. Acknowledging the importance of social sustainability becomes imperative to drive forward and generate human capital, thereby creating opportunities for progression within our society, particularly for young people who represent the future pillars of societal advancement. The term ‘County Lines’ describes the developing distribution process of the drug trade across the UK. Offenders use mobile phones to set up drug hubs. This process also consists of exploiting vulnerable children to work for them.