Ruthless drugs gangs that exploit vulnerable children are the target of a crackdown which has seen criminal operations shattered.

Experts warn of a “crisis” with organised crime gangs regularly using children to transport drugs with often devastating consequences.

Dealers running “county lines” operations distribute drugs to other areas of the country using dedicated mobile phone numbers.

The latest figures show that between July and September police succeeded in closing 410 county lines – with 557 people arrested.

More than 800 “vulnerable people” have been referred for safeguarding since July. Over 200 children and young people have accessed the county lines specialist support service.

The Home Office considers county lines “one of the most violent models of drug supply”.

Around 14,000 children were identified as at risk or involved in child criminal exploitation in 2022-23. But this thought to be a “significant underestimate on the scale of the problem”.

Dame Diana Johnson, the policing minister, said: “County lines are run by heartless criminals, who exploit young people and ruin their lives. I want to thank all the police officers who are dedicating their lives to stopping these criminals from bringing dangerous drugs to our streets and exploiting children for their personal gain.

“That is why we have dedicated millions in funding to focus on stopping serious organised crime and have committed to introducing a new offence to tackle child criminal exploitation, as we work to deliver our plan for change with safer streets.”

In a blow for the drug trade, last month in a single week across England and Wales a further 1,660 people were arrested, 557 weapons were seized and more than £3million worth of Class A and B drugs were seized.

A spokesman for the Children’s Society pressed for action to ensure criminals are held to account.

He said: “The exploitation of children through organised crime, such as county lines, is a crisis that demands urgent attention. This abuse not only devastates young lives but also damages their mental and physical health as well as their ability to form healthy relationships.

“The Children’s Society is calling on the Government to prioritise early intervention to reduce the risk of exploitation. However, the real focus must be on the perpetrators.

“We urgently need a statutory definition of child criminal exploitation to make sure that criminals are held accountable and that victims receive the trauma informed support they desperately need.”