A Coalville headteacher has welcomed a hard-hitting production to raise awareness on the issues of County Lines which will be shown in 80 secondary schools across Leicestershire.

Leicestershire Police have commissioned leading theatre company, AlterEgo Creative Solutions to deliver a series of productions to children in year seven upwards, as well as parents, teachers and professionals on the national drug trafficking issue.

The production, carried out by three actors, will run for eight weeks and aims to raise awareness around

County Lines, how it can affect young people, information on grooming and the similarities between Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE). The production will also educate children on where to go for help and advice if they have concerns.

County Lines is a national issue and involves gangs and criminal networks exporting illegal drugs into other areas of the country, often small towns, using mobile phone lines or another form of 'deal line' which can often be vulnerable adults or young people.

The gangs (usually made up of young males from a large urban area), often exploit children or vulnerable adults to move and store the drugs and money, and use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) and weapons as a way of trapping and manipulating them into trafficking class A drugs, specifically crack cocaine and heroin.

Keith Hobbs, Headteacher at Stephenson Studio School in Coalville said: "We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Leicestershire Police and AlterEgo Creative Solutions to tackle national issues at a local level and in a creative way.

"It is imperative that all schools raise awareness amongst their students and the community of the risk of County Lines and other potential safeguarding risks.

"The police and AlterEgo have been pivotal in raising the profile of this work, enabling the delivery of this important message in a way that is more relatable and memorable."