A CHILDREN’S charity has suggested children as young as seven are involved with drug gangs.

The Children’s Society made the claim after carrying out research suggesting children younger than previously thought were being drawn into gangs.

In one instance, a child as young as seven was said to have become embroiled in such an operation, research suggested.

In a report, the charity said it had spoken to a council worker who said they were working with a seven-year-old victim who had been exploited by a gang.

Peter McCall, Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said the new research was shocking.

“The fact that children as young as 10 are being coerced into county lines is a real cause for concern,” he said.

“Often we will have a preconceived idea of what we think someone involved in serious drug crime might look like. Few of us would imagine a 10-year-old could be capable of or understand the severity of drug-linked crime.

“This is why effective and robust police action against county lines is so important – not only do we identify and apprehend those who willingly get involved in drugs, but we are also able to step-in and take preventative measures to deter and safeguard, where necessary, at-risk children from being involved and leading a life of crime.”

Mr McCall continued: “We will continue to investigate and prosecute those who are involved in county lines and educate our young people to recognise the signs of coercion and grooming which will hopefully prevent their involvement.

“But the police need our help in this. We all have a part to play and especially parents and carers of children: it is our responsibility too to know what our children are up to, who they associate with and anything of concern should be reported to the police, together we have a responsibility to keep our children safe.”

Nick Roseveare, The Children’s Society’s chief executive, said: “Cowardly criminals are stooping to new lows in grooming young people to do their dirty work and in casting their net wider to reel in younger children.”

The charity is calling for early intervention to protect children, and for youngsters to be seen as victims rather than criminals.

The research was carried out anonymously, gathering mainly anecdotal evidence, said the charity.