COMMISSIONED BY NORTH YORKSHIRE POLICE.
MEET THE AUTHOR
CHRISTINA GABBITAS
Christina Gabbitas is an award-winning children’s author, Honorary Member of the NSPCC Council, Coronation Champion , founder of the Children Literature Festivals charity, and was recently awarded a Prime Ministers Points of Light Award. Her impactful writing commissions include collaborations with organisations such as Humberside Police & Crime Commissioners office, York Castle Museum, The Visual Group Doncaster, and Blackburn BID.
Notably, her recent work, “Trapped In County Lines,” commissioned by the North Yorkshire Police, Fire & Crime Commissioners Office, reflects her dedication to educating children about the signs of exploitation. Christina actively partners with various Police Forces, contributing to her transformative impact on children’s literature and safety education.
MEET THE ILLUSTRATOR
ALICIA ALBOT
Alicia Abbot is a character artist and animator from Hull, East Yorkshire. She Studies BA Animation at UAL Following three years at Wyke Sixth Form College, where she was commended on her A–level Fine Art and Grpahic Design with recognition awards. Alicia is currently invested in the rawness of contemporary British Imagery and plans to represent this concept in her future projects. Alicia has worked alongside INIT Creative, the Beats Bus as well as small musicians to create sleeve art.
Christina had already produced other successful safeguarding resources. The story Share Some Secrets for primary age children encourages them to speak out. This was endorsed by NSPCC, Barnardo’s, teachers, and professors to name a few.
No More Knives or County Lines is the first story in the series, this is targeted at age 10+ to help children understand what it means to be groomed, county line and the consequences of carrying knives.
Read more about the first book from the series, No More Knife Crime...
This education fosters a sense of community responsibility, encouraging children to contribute to the creation of safer environments. It also plays a crucial role in preventing the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, particularly adolescents who are often targeted by criminal gangs. By building trust through open and honest discussions, we can create an environment where children feel conformable seeking guidance and support from adults.
WHAT ARE COUNTY LINES?
County Lines refers to the utilisation of a phone line (burner phone) by criminal gangs to orchestrate the distribution of drugs across different regions. The term can encompass either the actual phone line used or the geographical route between counties employed for drug dissemination.
Recent data (2023) from the National Crime Agency indicates that there are over 2,000 individual deal lines in the UK associated with approximately 1,000 branded county lines. According to statistics from The Children’s Society, around 46,000 children in England are believed to be involved in gangs, with 84% of parents expressing concern about county lines in their vicinity. In London alone, 4,000 teenagers are reportedly being criminally exploited.
WHAT IS CHRISTINA DOING TO HELP?
Christina Gabbitas, a dedicated children’s author, is actively contributing to the safety and well-being of primary and high school students through her impactful work. With Trapped in county lines addressing the dangers of being groomed into county line crime, Christina goes beyond the role of an author, actively engaging with schools to spread awareness. Her visits to schools serve as a dynamic platform for direct interaction, allowing her to impart crucial knowledge about the risks associated with county lines grooming.
GET IN TOUCH
If you’re passionate about safeguarding children and young people from the dangers of county lines crime, we invite you to get in touch with Christina Gabbitas. Together, with Christina we can explore meaningful collaborations and initiatives to create a safer and more informed environment for our youth. Reach out for a conversation on how we can work together towards a brighter, safer future.
COLABORATORS
Christina diligently researched what happens within County Lines, collaborating with North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Youth Commission, York Police Cadets, Harrogate Police Cadets, and Sonya Jones MBE, to craft an authentic and impactful narrative grounded in real-world insights.
“Transforming the ‘Trapped In County Lines’ narrative into a compelling project, Christina collaborated with creatives, infusing the story with authenticity and impact.
Click here to learn more about the project and the people behind it...
COMMISSIONED BY NORTH YORKSHIRE POLICE.
MEET THE AUTHOR
CHRISTINA GABBITAS
Christina Gabbitas is an award-winning children’s author, Honorary Member of the NSPCC Council, Coronation Champion , founder of the Children Literature Festivals charity, and was recently awarded a Prime Ministers Points of Light Award. Her impactful writing commissions include collaborations with organisations such as Humberside Police & Crime Commissioners office, York Castle Museum, The Visual Group Doncaster, and Blackburn BID.
Notably, her recent work, “Trapped In County Lines,” commissioned by the North Yorkshire Police, funded by the North Yorkshire Police, Fire & Crime Commissioners Office, reflects her dedication to educating children about the signs of exploitation. Christina actively partners with various Police Forces, contributing to her transformative impact on children’s literature and safety education.
If you would like to get in touch ...
MEET THE ILLUSTRATOR
ALICIA ALBOT
Alicia Abbot is a character artist and animator from Hull, East Yorkshire. She Studies BA Animation at UAL Following three years at Wyke Sixth Form College, where she was commended on her A–level Fine Art and Grpahic Design with recognition awards. Alicia is currently invested in the rawness of contemporary British Imagery and plans to represent this concept in her future projects. Alicia has worked alongside INIT Creative, the Beats Bus as well as small musicians to create sleeve art.
Christina had already produced other successful safeguarding resources. The story Share Some Secrets for primary age children encourages them to speak out. This was endorsed by NSPCC, Barnardo’s, teachers, and professors to name a few.
No More Knives or County Lines is the first story in the series, this is targeted at age 10+ to help children understand what it means to be groomed, county line and the consequences of carrying knives.
Read more about the first book from the series, No More Knife Crime...
This education fosters a sense of community responsibility, encouraging children to contribute to the creation of safer environments. It also plays a crucial role in preventing the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, particularly adolescents who are often targeted by criminal gangs. By building trust through open and honest discussions, we can create an environment where children feel conformable seeking guidance and support from adults.
WHAT ARE COUNTY LINES?
County Lines refers to the utilisation of a phone line (burner phone) by criminal gangs to orchestrate the distribution of drugs across different regions. The term can encompass either the actual phone line used or the geographical route between counties employed for drug dissemination.
Recent data (2023) from the National Crime Agency indicates that there are over 2,000 individual deal lines in the UK associated with approximately 1,000 branded county lines. According to statistics from The Children’s Society, around 46,000 children in England are believed to be involved in gangs, with 84% of parents expressing concern about county lines in their vicinity. In London alone, 4,000 teenagers are reportedly being criminally exploited.
WHAT IS CHRISTINA DOING TO HELP?
Christina Gabbitas, a dedicated children’s author, is actively contributing to the safety and well-being of primary and high school students through her impactful work. With Trapped in county lines addressing the dangers of being groomed into county line crime, Christina goes beyond the role of an author, actively engaging with schools to spread awareness. Her visits to schools serve as a dynamic platform for direct interaction, allowing her to impart crucial knowledge about the risks associated with county lines grooming.
GET IN TOUCH
If you’re passionate about safeguarding children and young people from the dangers of county lines crime, we invite you to get in touch with Christina Gabbitas. Together, with Christina we can explore meaningful collaborations and initiatives to create a safer and more informed environment for our youth. Reach out for a conversation on how we can work together towards a brighter, safer future.
COLABORATORS
Christina diligently researched what happens within County Lines, collaborating with organisations and individuals to craft an authentic and impactful narrative grounded in real-world insights.
“Transforming the ‘Trapped In County Lines’ narrative into a compelling project, Christina collaborated with creatives, infusing the story with authenticity and impact.
Click here to learn more about the project and the people behind it...
