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The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Criminals to face jail over forcing children to conceal drugs under new offence
Gang leaders who force vulnerable people to hide drugs and cash in their bodies could face up to 10 years in prison under a change in the law. Ministers are seeking to create the new criminal offence to crack down on the action known as 'plugging' typically used by organised criminals to move goods from one place to another in county lines drug running. Children and vulnerable adults are forced to ingest or conceal the items in their bodies, which can cause significant harm and can be fatal if drug packages break open inside them, leading to an overdose. The move will be included as an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill currently going through Parliament. Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips said: 'There is something truly evil about the gang leaders who degrade young girls, young boys and vulnerable adults in this way, forcing them to put their lives at risk. 'This new offence will go alongside other measures in our landmark Crime and Policing Bill to turn the tables on the gang leaders and hold them to account for exploiting children and vulnerable adults.' It comes as the Government committed to investing £42 million into a programme to tackle county lines gangs and support victims of the drugs trade. Since July 2024, more than 800 violent criminals involved in county lines have been charged through the programme's enforcement action and 1,200 drug lines have been closed, according to the Home Office. More than 2,100 safeguarding referrals for children and vulnerable people have also been made, it added. Jack O'Neill, of The Children's Society, said: 'Children forced to carry drugs in this way are subject to a form of abuse and exploitation that causes deep, long-lasting harm, and the law must reflect that. 'A clear legal definition of child criminal exploitation would help stop vulnerable children falling through the cracks and shift the focus onto the predators who profit from their abuse.'
Irish Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Taoiseach demands review of e-scooter rules over use by children serving as drug mules for crime gangs
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said there must be a review of all regulations around e-scooters and scramblers because of their use by criminal organisations getting children to distribute drugs. Mr Martin made his remarks following concerns raised in the Dáil about people using scooters and bikes in 'muling' for the drugs trade and becoming involved in road incidents, often without being pursued or prosecuted. The Taoiseach said it is a 'very serious issue which demands a review of the entire regulatory framework governing scramblers and e-scooters'. Fianna Fáil Dublin Bay North TD Tom Brabazon had said e-bikes, e-scramblers, e-scooters and ordinary scramblers 'are the scourge of people's lives across the city'. READ MORE 'A lot of them are unfortunately being used in criminal enterprises and in particular for muling and carrying illicit produce for the drug trade,' he said. 'These bikes, scramblers and scooters, when used as part of a criminal enterprise, are usually operated by minors.' Despite being underage these 'minors' were 'acting in an adult way but are not facing the rigours of the criminal system', he said. 'On top of that, notwithstanding anything the Garda Commissioner might say, these drug mules are not being pursued and prosecuted when they are on those vehicles.' Mr Brabazon said the e-scooter and scrambler users often do not wear helmets and are instead 'ballied up', or wearing balaclavas. They are 'not carrying or using lights in the dark evenings, having removed the speed governors from their vehicles'. His party colleague Shane Moynihan also urged stronger action on enforcement. The Dublin Mid-West TD said that in the past two weeks in his constituency a 10-year-old boy was severely injured when an e-scooter in a cycle lane ran a red light and three weeks ago there was a fatality in the Citywest-Saggart area involving a scrambler bike. E-scooters in particular 'are a welcome addition to the active travel agenda' but he stressed that 'users of these e-scooters need to obey the rules of the road and have respect for other road users'. Mr Moynihan said 'we need to see a more consistent approach to enforcement in terms of seizing illegal scramblers but also encouraging their sensible use'. The Taoiseach said it was a very serious issue that some of these new vehicles are being used 'as part of criminal enterprises, particularly the utilisation of young minors in the distribution of drugs'. He said the entire regulatory framework for e-scooters and scramblers needed to be reviewed. [ How drug debts are used to control Irish communities: 'Men are forced to go to jail on someone's behalf' Opens in new window ] 'There are positives too, particularly for the elderly population in terms of people getting access to go up hills and so on,' he said. 'However, it merits a review because many negative aspects have happened as a result of their deployment.'
