Hollyoaks will in 2020 explore the issue of child criminal exploitation through county lines with school-age children and teen characters – working closely with charity The Children’s Society.

The decision for Hollyoaks to tackle this subject comes off the back of the National Crime Agency revealing county lines exploitation is present across all police areas in England and Wales.  It estimates that the number of deal lines has more than doubled to around 2,000 in the last year.

Hollyoaks’ ambition is to get beyond the headlines, beyond the crime statistics and police reports, and to look at the impact on real families and real children.

‘County lines’ is a term used when drug gangs from big cities expand their operations to smaller towns, exploiting children and vulnerable people.

Over the course of a year Hollyoaks characters, Juliet , Charlie , Sid  and Ella (Erin Palmer) will be groomed to carry out criminal activity.

Hollyoaks matriarchs Nancy , Leela , Marnie  and Mandy will fight to protect their children as they become embroiled in this dangerous world.

The long-running story will commence in an ambitious New Year hour long ‘flash-forward’ episode.

Episode scenes will offer glimpses of New Year’s Eve 2020, depicting how much life has changed in a year for the young teens of Hollyoaks village and their families.  As the clock chimes towards midnight, flashes to scenes 12 months on, will include a knife being dropped into an evidence bag.

Hollyoaks Executive Producer Bryan Kirkwood confirmed that raising awareness of the dangers of carrying knives would be amongst key messages to come from the show over the next year.

He said: “Hollyoaks has a good model for telling real-life stories that are happening to our audience right now.

“We have a strong and award-winning formula of how to talk to young people without them feeling lectured.

“A recent statistic found that 40 per cent of people who watch Hollyoaks watch it in a traditional way, at home with family or friends.  So, we are in a very strong position to start vital conversations in the living room.

“County lines child exploitation is terrifying and every month the writers come in telling stories of their children’s schools on lock-down, or weapons being confiscated. It’s in the news and in our court systems.

“We want young people and parents to know the signs and what to do if you think it’s happening to your child or someone they know.”

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