this is bbc news. the headlines: aid agencies say there is a mixture of hope and despair in turkey and syria as the painstaking search for survivors continues after monday's earthquakes. more than 23,000 people are known to have died while thousands of people are living in makeshift shelters. us military fighterjets, acting on a command from president biden, have shot down an unidentified object off the northern coast of alaska. a white house spokesman said the target was the size of a small car, and posed a threat to civilian aviation. three people have been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder after police in, merseyside, north west england

clashed with demonstrators outside a hotel, housing asylum seekers. police say a protest and counter—protest were initially peaceful. now on bbc news, breaking the county lines. it the county lines. is every parent's nightmare. he it is every parent's nightmare. he was climbing out the windows on the night. he ended up selling crack and heroin. young --eole selling crack and heroin. young peeple lured — selling crack and heroin. young people lured into _ selling crack and heroin. young people lured into a _ selling crack and heroin. young people lured into a world - selling crack and heroin. young people lured into a world of. people lured into a world of drugs, gangs and violence. he was drugs, gangs and violence. he: was beaten badly. to see your child's face twice the size of what it should be — no mother should see. what it should be - no mother should see-— what it should be - no mother should see. there are calls for a change _ should see. there are calls for a change in — should see. there are calls for a change in the _ should see. there are calls for a change in the law. _ should see. there are calls for a change in the law. to - should see. there are calls for| a change in the law. to make it a change in the law. to make it a specific _ a change in the law. to make it a specific offence _ a change in the law. to make it a specific offence to _ a change in the law. to make it a specific offence to deal- a change in the law. to make it a specific offence to deal to - a specific offence to deal to children under 16. a specific offence to deal to

children under16._ children under 16. will that make criminals _ children under 16. will that make criminals a _ children under 16. will that make criminals a victims? | children under 16. will that l make criminals a victims? to make criminals a victims? to make children are being exploited and coerced, the law would not criminalise them those circumstances. today we investigate what is being done to break the county lines. it is something you might have read or heard about on the news — county lines is defined as grooming by criminals to force teenagers into drug dealing and other activity. teenagers into drug dealing and otheractivity. drugs teenagers into drug dealing and other activity. drugs are often transported away from the big cities to smaller towns and rural areas by children and vulnerable people. the county line is the mobile phone use to take the orders. jim has been looking at this and speaking to some of the families involved. what have they told you? i spoke to charities and families for several months about children exploited and controlled by the county lines drugs gangs. in some cases,

when a child is talking to a social worker, gang members can listen in via the child's mobile phone, so real control over who the child is talking to and what they are saying. but i think the thing that really surprised me was just how quickly young people can get embroiled in this world of drugs and gangs, as this mum, who has been speaking anonymously to ask can explain. he was a happy child. 0n the no. he was a happy child. 0n the 9°~ 100 _ he was a happy child. 0n the go. 100 miles an hour. cheeky chappie — go. 100 miles an hour. cheeky chappie. he went into year 11 and — chappie. he went into year 11 and knuckle down. he was then ready— and knuckle down. he was then ready to — and knuckle down. he was then ready to do his exams, until loxlon — ready to do his exams, until loxton came in march. and then my whole — loxton came in march. and then my whole world fell apart. locked _ my whole world fell apart. locked down, he was supposed to be in, _ locked down, he was supposed to be in, wasn't in, was going out, — be in, wasn't in, was going out, was _ be in, wasn't in, was going out, was going out, coming home at all_ out, was going out, coming home at all hours. — out, was going out, coming home at all hours, wouldn't answer

my calls _ at all hours, wouldn't answer my calls. he had just been absent _ my calls. he had just been absent from the home, not telling _ absent from the home, not telling me where he was, secretive. i suspected things were — secretive. i suspected things were going on in the home. i find — were going on in the home. i find little _ were going on in the home. i find little bits of weed and little — find little bits of weed and little bags. he was arrested, which — little bags. he was arrested, which is _ little bags. he was arrested, which is the first time that the — which is the first time that the police came to the home. there — the police came to the home. there were things in the house that i_ there were things in the house that i wasn't happy about, so i did get— that i wasn't happy about, so i did get rid _ that i wasn't happy about, so i did get rid of. he came back from — did get rid of. he came back from the _ did get rid of. he came back from the police station and asked _ from the police station and asked me where the things were. and i_ asked me where the things were. and i said — asked me where the things were. and i said "i put them in the skiu — and i said "i put them in the skiu " — and i said "i put them in the skip. " and _ and i said "i put them in the skip. " and the fear in his face — skip. " and the fear in his face was _ skip. " and the fear in his face was horrendous, and it was alarm _ face was horrendous, and it was alarm bells— face was horrendous, and it was alarm bells to me, something is not good — alarm bells to me, something is not good. police searched his bedroom, _ not good. police searched his bedroom, arrested him out and about, — bedroom, arrested him out and about, and _ bedroom, arrested him out and about, and took all the drugs off him _ about, and took all the drugs off him. they then belonged to this perpetrator and they need

the money or the drugs back. he was beaten badly. which is a trauma — was beaten badly. which is a trauma that he is now living through _ trauma that he is now living through. he came home and hid himsetf— through. he came home and hid himself away and eventually he said "this — himself away and eventually he said "this is what you get by owing — said "this is what you get by owing money." to see your child's— owing money." to see your child's face twice the size of what — child's face twice the size of what it— child's face twice the size of what it should be, no mother should — what it should be, no mother should see. and that's when i asked — should see. and that's when i asked for— should see. and that's when i asked for some help. didn't realty— asked for some help. didn't really get any help. a few weeks _ really get any help. a few weeks went by. i thought if he went— weeks went by. i thought if he went into _ weeks went by. i thought if he went into care he would be looked _ went into care he would be looked after, safely. he was then— looked after, safely. he was then placed in a contained flat in the — then placed in a contained flat in the middle of where he was being — in the middle of where he was being exploited from. no

supervision. no protection, reatty~ _ supervision. no protection, really. no money. you know, no benefits— really. no money. you know, no benefits or— really. no money. you know, no benefits or anything. and was there — benefits or anything. and was there for— benefits or anything. and was there for four months — 4—5 months _ there for four months - 4-5 months-— there for four months - 4-5 months. ~ ., , months. when he was in the flat, did their— months. when he was in the flat, did their quotation - flat, did their quotation continue?— flat, did their quotation continue? : , , , continue? absolutely, yes. he was still selling _ continue? absolutely, yes. he was still selling drugs. - continue? absolutely, yes. he was still selling drugs. and - was still selling drugs. and that— was still selling drugs. and that is— was still selling drugs. and that is how he was funding living~ _ that is how he was funding living. but i look back and think— living. but i look back and think is— living. but i look back and think is a _ living. but i look back and think is a tough love? havel given— think is a tough love? havel given him _ think is a tough love? havel given him tough love? does he have _ given him tough love? does he have to — given him tough love? does he have to hit _ given him tough love? does he have to hit rock bottom before had _ have to hit rock bottom before he'd get — have to hit rock bottom before he'd get better? just one phone call to— he'd get better? just one phone call to him and i said "stop doing — call to him and i said "stop doing what you are doing and come — doing what you are doing and come home." "if you don't, stop phoning — come home." "if you don't, stop phoning me." and he came home two days— phoning me." and he came home two days later. so phoning me." and he came home two days later-— two days later. so he was back home, two days later. so he was back home. but _ two days later. so he was back home, but the _ two days later. so he was back home, but the repercussions l home, but the repercussions have continued, haven't they? with the police and the cases against — with the police and the cases against him — he should be treated _ against him — he should be treated as a victim, but that doesn't _ treated as a victim, but that doesn't seem to be happening in

the police — doesn't seem to be happening in the police respect. he's lost a couple — the police respect. he's lost a couple of_ the police respect. he's lost a couple ofjobs. he's suffering. hes— couple ofjobs. he's suffering. he's not— couple ofjobs. he's suffering. he's not the boy of 11 or 12. hopefully we'll get him back, hopefully. 35s hopefully we'll get him back, hopefully-— hopefully we'll get him back, hoefull. : hopefully. a powerful account from that _ hopefully. a powerful account from that mum. _ hopefully. a powerful account from that mum. i _ hopefully. a powerful account from that mum. i speak - hopefully. a powerful account from that mum. i speak with l hopefully. a powerful account i from that mum. i speak with the ceo of pace parents. many parents would say that couldn't happen to us, to ourfamily. what you say to that? it happen to us, to our family. what you say to that? it could. families come _ what you say to that? it could. families come from _ what you say to that? it could. families come from every - families come from every community and every background. so how do you break that cycle? how do you stop kids becoming coerced by the drug gangs? it is a multifaceted approach and part of that needs a national strategy that looks at the laws that are needed to bring

charges to those that are responsible for these crimes that specifically make an offence of child exploitation and the subsequent homes that come from that. 50 and the subsequent homes that come from that.— come from that. so you see the law need to _ come from that. so you see the law need to change. _ come from that. so you see the law need to change. how- come from that. so you see the law need to change. how does. law need to change. how does the law need to change? currently we are seeing are tacked on to other laws, drug laws, and the fact that exploitation of a child might aggravate those laws. what we need to see is that child criminal exploitation is made a law within itself and the subsequent homes that come from that. so, for instance, concealment of drugs is a real issue and factor that we see in county lines. i concealment we mean that people are forcing and coercing or tricking children to insert drugs into their bodies to travel to different locations. forcing the drugs _ different locations. forcing the drugs into _ different locations. forcing the drugs into their - different locations. forcingl the drugs into their bodies? sometimes they might trick the children but more often they insert those drugs themselves. and you are saying at the moment it is quite difficult to

prosecute those offenders because there is no specific offence for that?— offence for that? the legal framework _ offence for that? the legal framework is _ offence for that? the legal framework is in _ offence for that? the legal framework is in there. - offence for that? the legal framework is in there. it . offence for that? the legal. framework is in there. it gives too many ways out of it. we i needed to be an aggravating factor, but a stand—alone offence of its own right, to give the consequences of its own right. give the consequences of its own right-— own right. lindsay dalton, thank you- _ own right. lindsay dalton, thank you. thank - own right. lindsay dalton, thank you. thank you. - own right. lindsay dalton, thank you. thank you. we | own right. lindsay dalton, - thank you. thank you. we speak to another— thank you. thank you. we speak to another mother _ thank you. thank you. we speak to another mother speaking - to another mother speaking anonymously. she had herfamily were forced to move away from their home to escape the gangs, but, as we are going to find out, it was far from perfect solution. out, it was far from perfect solution-— out, it was far from perfect solution. we had to leave a rivate solution. we had to leave a private rented _ solution. we had to leave a private rented property - solution. we had to leave aj private rented property due solution. we had to leave a i private rented property due to benefit cuts due to the benefit gap and we ended up being moved into a very, very rough area in the town. he had to go to a new school. which is in the middle of two different gangs. and he — a friend of his got stabbed while we were there and because

his friend used to be in a gang they associated him with the gang and then they started to put — he was then just associated with it, so they want to disturb him as well. he was a preteen at the time. and i think hejust — he knew was a preteen at the time. and i think he just — he knew then that he needed to make the choice of being on his own or joining the gang for protection. i noticed his friends got a lot older. he has always gone around with all the lads because he has or has been mature, but this was dramatically older. it was difficult to know where he was and keep tabs on him. thejob that i had, i was going to bed early, because i had other children as well, and i thought "well done, he is going to bed" — what some of this age goes to bed early? and it turned out that he was actually climbing out windows of a night and they had him selling crack and heroin. 0ne had him selling crack and heroin. one of the children had come in and they wanted to get

supper. they said the big brother's friends were in the kitchen and there were bridges everywhere. i didn't understand at the time and when i walked in there was some very, very tall, olderteens in there was some very, very tall, older teens to early 20s, and there was stalks of skunk — cannabis, all over the kitchen. they were backing up in my kitchen. and sorting it all out. when i went in, i was quite shocked at my reaction was "what do you think you're doing? how dare you! " to me. nobody lifted an eyebrow. my son just looked and sorted said don't start, and i had to back out of the room. and that's when i realised things were getting really, really bad. i was calling social services and

finding weapons as well — machetes, knives, he was getting caught with nose at school. i was taking them to the police station. asking them "will you please arrest my son, or give me advice on what to do? " they wouldn't give me advice or put him in the cell. it sounds isolating to you as the mother. were you able to talk to other mothers? hat talk to other mothers? not reall , talk to other mothers? not really, because _ talk to other mothers? not really, because you - talk to other mothers? llrrt really, because you felt ashamed and embarrassed that you couldn't protect your children and stop what was going on. i tried my best, like i said, to get any outside help — we had different gang teams coming in. but all the teams coming in. but all the teams coming and required my son to work with them, which he didn't want to do. work with them, which he didn't want to do— work with them, which he didn't want to do. how did you get him out? i want to do. how did you get him out? i was _ want to do. how did you get him out? i was told _ want to do. how did you get him out? i was told i _ want to do. how did you get him out? i was told i couldn't - want to do. how did you get him out? i was told i couldn't go - out? i was told i couldn't go into nearby _ out? i was told i couldn't go into nearby towns _ out? i was told i couldn't go into nearby towns or - out? i was told i couldn't go into nearby towns or cities | into nearby towns or cities because it was so easy to get there. so i had to move miles and miles away. the councils have no understanding whatsoever. when i went down, i was told on more than one

occasion to go back where i came from. it is crucial that changes. if we've got nowhere to go, as families, no—one to take our children, far away, then we are never going to get — will never build to break the and bond between victim and the gang. and bond between victim and the .an. _ : , :, and bond between victim and the .an. _ : , ., :, , and bond between victim and the can“: :, , , , gang. alison lowe is the deputy ma or gang. alison lowe is the deputy mayor for _ gang. alison lowe is the deputy mayor for crime _ gang. alison lowe is the deputy mayor for crime and _ gang. alison lowe is the deputy mayor for crime and policing - mayor for crime and policing for west yorkshire. a family had to leave their home to escape the gangs. should that be happening? it sounds like in that case the gangs have one. it shouldn't be happening. family should be able to live free and secure and safe in west yorkshire. but we know, unfortunately, that crime, organised crime, is rising. we know in west yorkshire. like many metropolitan places, county lines, the drug gangs, the organised crime groups, they are here, trying to think of our communities, and we have

to stop them. share of our communities, and we have to stop them-— to stop them. are there no-go areas in west _ to stop them. are there no-go areas in west yorkshire - to stop them. are there no-go areas in west yorkshire right l areas in west yorkshire right now? areas the gangs have taken over? i now? areas the gangs have taken over? , , , : now? areas the gangs have taken over? ,,,. , ., over? i suspect some people are feelin: over? i suspect some people are feeling that — over? i suspect some people are feeling that - — over? i suspect some people are feeling that - whether— over? i suspect some people are feeling that - whether the - over? i suspect some people are feeling that - whether the west | feeling that — whether the west yorkshire police would say that is another matter. we have matt 101 different serious organised crime areas, threats, in west yorkshire, and we know there organised crime groups are crossing across leeds, bradford, and hercules. we know that because we have a programme position which works across all our partners to map those threats, to disrupt those threats. we are winning. we are working together to support all those different partners. really? you think the police are winning the war against the drug gangs? l are winning the war against the drug gangs?— drug gangs? i think we are winnin: drug gangs? i think we are winning because _ drug gangs? i think we are winning because we - drug gangs? i think we are winning because we are i drug gangs? i think we are i winning because we are taking millions of pounds of drugs out of the — circulation. just in the last six months were taken one and a half million from the drug runners stop where using

“p drug runners stop where using up money for the proceeds of crime act monies. we, the people of west yorkshire, winning, i believe, and we have to win, because if we don't, the future is bleak. do you think the young people who are coerced into joining these gangs should be criminalised? h0 these gangs should be criminalised?- these gangs should be criminalised? :, :, ., ., ., criminalised? no not at all and there are _ criminalised? no not at all and there are mechanisms - criminalised? no not at all and there are mechanisms throughj there are mechanisms through there are mechanisms through the modern slavery legislation to protect people being criminalised so there is a national referral mechanism which is not being used, we need to do more to raise awareness of that. l need to do more to raise awareness of that.- awareness of that. i 'ust wonder if i awareness of that. i 'ust wonder if some i awareness of that. i just wonder if some families| awareness of that. i just i wonder if some families might feel that in a case that some drugs have been supplied by another young person, treating that person is of rather than a criminal might suggest that justice hasn't been done. there are lots and _ justice hasn't been done. there are lots and lots _ justice hasn't been done. there are lots and lots of _ justice hasn't been done. there are lots and lots of children i are lots and lots of children being exploited through pharaoh, through threats to their widerfamily pharaoh, through threats to their wider family members who are doing terrible things that they would not do without those

older crime members forcing them to do at hand i don't think they should be criminalised for that. we know that through 2010 youth services have been decimated and leads, the first thing we cut was our youth services. we have now got lots of academies which are brilliant in themselves but they do not talk to the local authorities, they don't work with the local authorities in the same way so it is much more difficult to bring those agencies together because they are part of the solution. ~ , because they are part of the solution-— solution. we will be putting some of the _ solution. we will be putting some of the things - solution. we will be putting some of the things you i solution. we will be putting some of the things you said solution. we will be putting i some of the things you said to the government's policing minister who we will hear from in a moment but thank you for speaking to us today. now, the story of kerry and tammy, last two mothers in this programme. kerry's daughter died after taking drugs supplied by tammy's son. richard edwards

reports. it tammy's son. richard edwards reorts. :, , , tammy's son. richard edwards reorts. , :, , ., , reports. it has been four years this year. _ reports. it has been four years this year. but _ reports. it has been four years this year, but it _ reports. it has been four years this year, but it still _ reports. it has been four years this year, but it still feels i this year, but it still feels like it happened yesterday. flowers in applegarth car park, this is where15—year—old leah hayes was found on saturday. police were called after reports a young woman had collapsed. two north yorkshire mums who bought an unlikely friendship from a terrible tragedy. they would first campaign side—by—side to raise awareness of the risk of drugs after tammy's son help supply the mdma that killed kerry's daughter. kerry wants to see a new law, tammy is strongly against the idea but both want to see stronger action on county lines gangs.- to see stronger action on county lines gangs. most of the laws are not with the _ county lines gangs. most of the laws are not with the times. i laws are not with the times. made 50, 60,70 years ago when life was so much different. the

secific life was so much different. the specific law _ life was so much different. the specific law changing you want to see, what you want to see come on? to to see, what you want to see come on?— to see, what you want to see come on? :, .,~ ., ,, . . come on? to make it a specific offence to _ come on? to make it a specific offence to deal— come on? to make it a specific offence to deal two _ come on? to make it a specific offence to deal two children i offence to deal two children under 16. offence to deal two children under16. it offence to deal two children under 16. it sounds really simple and it sounds like it could already be a law but it is not. i could already be a law but it is not. :, �* ~' is not. i don't think the politicians _ is not. i don't think the politicians understand l is not. i don't think the i politicians understand what modern _ politicians understand what modern slavery is. they know when — modern slavery is. they know when boris was and he had his ten year— when boris was and he had his ten year plan but in his ten year— ten year plan but in his ten year plan— ten year plan but in his ten year plan when you read it there _ year plan when you read it there was nothing in there protect— there was nothing in there protect our children that were being — protect our children that were being exploited. he talked about— being exploited. he talked about helping the drug users and everybody else but he didn't _ and everybody else but he didn't talk about protect our chitdreh _ didn't talk about protect our children. we are in a crisis, a living — children. we are in a crisis, a living crisis— children. we are in a crisis, a living crisis at the minute so that's— living crisis at the minute so that's what we need to talk about— that's what we need to talk about but as we are in the middle _ about but as we are in the middle of that living crisis, and — middle of that living crisis, and actually so are our children, because even though mum _ children, because even though mum and _ children, because even though mum and dad aren't saying they need _ mum and dad aren't saying they need help with bills, they see they— need help with bills, they see they are — need help with bills, they see they are not getting the things they are not getting the things they use — they are not getting the things they use to get, things are hard — they use to get, things are hard at _ they use to get, things are hard at home, so he's not thinking _ hard at home, so he's not thinking of that bigger picture of what — thinking of that bigger picture of what is going on with our chitdreh _

of what is going on with our children. he has not said one word — children. he has not said one word about drugs that i have listen — word about drugs that i have listen to— word about drugs that i have listen to at all, or exploitation. | listen to at all, or exploitation. listen to at all, or ex - loitation. , listen to at all, or exloitation. , ,, ., ,, exploitation. i met rishi sunak but since we — exploitation. i met rishi sunak but since we met _ exploitation. i met rishi sunak but since we met i've - exploitation. i met rishi sunak but since we met i've heard i but since we met i've heard nothing back from him, and kevin obviously believes in leah's law and took it under his wing and he has not my mp. his and are close by town but not my mp. so can kevin or me have the support from rishi? kerry roberts ending that report by richard edwards. and a former children's commissionerfor a former children's commissioner for england, a former children's commissionerfor england, what commissioner for england, what needs commissionerfor england, what needs to happen to prevent another tragedy like the death of leah? , :, another tragedy like the death of leah? , ., :, of leah? first and foremost we need all additions, _ of leah? first and foremost we j need all additions, government ministers and the prime minister to see this as the national emergency it is. we're looking at tens of thousands of children here who are falling through gaps in services, who

are being exploited by criminals in plain sight in front of us and our cities, towns and around the country. families are desperate to get help but there are so few places for them to go and it needs to have the laws behind it, the framework of law behind it, the framework of law behind it and legislation but really we need government to be able to get behind this to accept that this is a national emergency, to get to the point where they are as agile and determined as the criminals are at the moment to exploit our children. : , :, at the moment to exploit our children. : i. ., children. are you saying that is not happening _ children. are you saying that is not happening at - children. are you saying that is not happening at the i children. are you saying that i is not happening at the moment? because there was a big anti—county lines strategy under borisjohnson. anti-county lines strategy under boris johnson. there was, the parameter— under boris johnson. there was, the parameter then _ under boris johnson. there was, the parameter then said - under boris johnson. there was, the parameter then said he i the parameter then said he wanted to write the heads of the county lines snake, the snakeis the county lines snake, the snake is still going. and all that we can see as it is getting more prevalent, it was rocket boosted by the pandemic, the cost of living crisis is adding to that, and we have a government that doesn't have either the leadership or the co—ordination about this. it's

unclear which secretary of state is responsible for the protection of our children. it's unclear where this fits with government policy and we don't have leadership from the top. i want the prime minister top. i want the prime minister to see what is happening just as actually david cameron did with child sexual exploitation nearly a decade ago. at the level of intervention we need. and why are so many kids being coerced into drug gangs right now? , :, :, now? first of all the drug dealers — now? first of all the drug dealers want _ now? first of all the drug dealers want them. i now? first of all the drug dealers want them. they | now? first of all the drug i dealers want them. they are commodities, they are cheaper for them and they deliver a really important part in their business, they take all the risk, do all the running. we have actually seen that the age of kids that are involved in this is getting lower and lower. with found 13 and 1a —year—olds that are managing the county lines now, notjust doing the dreadful workaround about managing it and that is of course part of a strategy from these ruthless criminals stop first of all people want them and they are constantly

recruiting and then you got children who are often falling outside school, often vulnerable for different ways and theyjust don't have the protection around them. those services are stretched to their limit, they can't intervene to the level that they need to support the families and support the families and support those children. should there be tougher _ support those children. should there be tougher punishments| there be tougher punishments for those who deal drugs to under 16th. fill for those who deal drugs to under 16th.— for those who deal drugs to under 16th. of course. there should be — under 16th. of course. there should be both _ under16th. of course. there should be both tougher- should be both tougher punishment and better support for those kids. we have to do this from both sides. we have to be tough on the criminals that exploit children, it has to start, we have to change the scales has to be at the moment it is very easy for them. we are making it very easy for the criminals want to get children. we have to start fighting back and making it much more difficult and the same time we have to get to those kids and support and inspire them to stop it happening.— support and inspire them to stop it happening. thank you. well i stop it happening. thank you. well i have — stop it happening. thank you. well i have been _ stop it happening. thank you. well i have been speaking i stop it happening. thank you. well i have been speaking to | well i have been speaking to the policing minister chris philip and they asked him and many cases where the children

who have been groomed into drug gangs should be treated as victims or criminals. it depends obviously on the facts of the case butjust depends obviously on the facts of the case but just to depends obviously on the facts of the case butjust to be very clear if somebody is aggressively coerced into carrying drugs, then they will not be considered a criminal in that context. each case it looked at on its individual merits. clearly when children are being exploited and coerced, the law would not criminalise them in those circumstances. d0 criminalise them in those circumstances.— criminalise them in those circumstances. , , circumstances. do you support leah's law? — circumstances. do you support leah's law? something - circumstances. do you support leah's law? something that i circumstances. do you support leah's law? something that is| leah's law? something that is being proposed by north yorkshire mum kerry roberts that would make it a specific offence to deal drugs to under 16th? ,, , , , , offence to deal drugs to under 16th? ,, ,, , , ., 16th? supplying drugs to children. _ 16th? supplying drugs to children, people - 16th? supplying drugs to children, people under. 16th? supplying drugs to| children, people under16 16th? supplying drugs to i children, people under16 is a children, people under 16 is a particularly heinous and despicable crime, i'd say that as a father myself. under the 2020 sentencing act, it is already an aggravating factor if the person being supplied drugs as a child, if they are under 16 and what that means is

they will get a longer sentence, the person dealing drugs will get a longer sentence than if the person receiving the drugs was over the age of 16, so we have got that law already. a. my colleague in parliament kevin holland rake has been raising this tragic case so we are looking at it very carefully butjust looking at it very carefully but just to reassure looking at it very carefully butjust to reassure your viewers under the sentencing act, you will already get a longer sentence because of the aggravating nature of supplying drugs to a child under the age of 16. : :, ., of 16. and we have heard alarming _ of 16. and we have heard alarming claims - of 16. and we have heard alarming claims about i of 16. and we have heard i alarming claims about young people trent 1a drugs in their bodies. do you think the people who force them to do that should face tougher sentences? i think that is an absolutely despicable form of abuse of children, it's absolutely disgusting, it is the worst possible form of exploitation, thatis possible form of exploitation, that is something they definitely prepared to look at. quite clearly if someone is convicted of doing this then it is a form of assault. what you've just described would obviously attract a severe sentence, it would be

considered at the most serious end of that kind of assault but i want to make sure that where people do this to children they get the highest possible sentences. i will take a look at that and if we need to do more to ensure the sentences are as high as possible we definitely will. are as high as possible we definitely will. is are as high as possible we definitely will.— are as high as possible we definitely will. is the cost of livin: definitely will. is the cost of living crisis _ definitely will. is the cost of living crisis playing - definitely will. is the cost of living crisis playing apart i living crisis playing apart when it comes to young people being recruited into drug gangs? being recruited into drug trans? :, being recruited into drug hans? :, :, �* being recruited into drug trans? :, :, �* ~' being recruited into drug hans? ., ., �* ~' gangs? no, i don't think so. i think the _ gangs? no, i don't think so. i thinkthe link— gangs? no, i don't think so. i think the link between - gangs? no, i don't think so. i think the link between the i think the link between the economy and drug addiction or drug dealing isn't particularly a well—established one. let's not forget we thankfully have historically very low levels of unemployment. unemployment is halved since the conservatives came to office, it is pretty much at a 50 year low. former children's _ much at a 50 year low. former children's commissioner- much at a 50 year low. former children's commissioner and l children's commissioner and long field believes it is a factor. ~ :, . factor. wider economic conditions _ factor. wider economic conditions and - factor. wider economic conditions and poverty| factor. wider economic i conditions and poverty are different questions are stopping obviously we are focused on getting people out of poverty, benefits are going up of poverty, benefits are going up substantially in a couple of

months time of the national minimum wage is going up as well and we minimum wage is going up as welland we are minimum wage is going up as well and we are very keen to make sure that when children are at risk and they are properly safeguarded, we are working obviously with local authorities and with charities to actively identify children who are at risk so that they can be properly looked after. that is a really important element of this whole issue. that was the policing minister. gemma is here for a final. ba had their perhaps that the government might be looking at a change of policy here?- a change of policy here? yeah, look, a change of policy here? yeah, look. clearly — a change of policy here? yeah, look, clearly i _ a change of policy here? yeah, look, clearly i think— a change of policy here? yeah, look, clearly i think there i a change of policy here? yeah, look, clearly i think there is i look, clearly i think there is an agreement that county line drug gangs are something that need to be tackled. the question as ever is how and it is something the government are... they have strategies, they are spending millions of pounds and trying to tackle as we have just heard, pounds and trying to tackle as we havejust heard, labour would have a different strategy in charities as we have been hearing as well but i think right now if you are a parent

and you are going through this it still remains something that is very bewildering and very frightening. it is very bewildering and very frightening-— is very bewildering and very frightening. it is, thank you. of course — frightening. it is, thank you. of course this _ frightening. it is, thank you. of course this is _ frightening. it is, thank you. of course this is a _ frightening. it is, thank you. of course this is a huge i frightening. it is, thank you. | of course this is a huge issue which we will return to but if you are impacted by any of the subjects raised today and in need of support you can find organisations which can offer advice at bbc.co.uk/actionline. you have been watching breaking the county lines, a politics north special. ta—ta. hello.

the weekend's here. let's see if the weather's going to be kind to us over the next couple of days. 0verall, actually not looking too bad. having said that, it's not necessarily going to be all that sunny. in fact, a lot of cloud has spread across the uk and you can see that layer of cloud across the country through the early hours. it's not cold, though. morning temperatures will be around six degrees in cardiff, will match that in newcastle and in some spots it'll be even higher than that first thing on saturday. but the clouds will remain thick through most of the day. however, at times they will give way to a few sunny spells, particularly towards eastern areas of the uk. and the temperature's a little higher than of late. so we're talking double figures pretty much across the board, up to about 13 degrees celsius. sunday is going to be similar across the uk, may start off quite grey, perhaps misty, murky first thing, but overall, not a bad day.

this is bbc world news. i'm monika plaha. our top stories: hope and despair in turkey and syria as the pain staking search for survivors after the earth quakes continues. and the second and third day after the earthquake, they were finding a lot of people. now they are finding very few, almost no—one. more than 23,000 people are dead and millions without shelter are in desperate need of aid. we'll have all the very latest on the rescue effort. also on the programme, us fighterjets shoot down

an unidentified object over alaska. the pentagon says president biden gave the order to "seek