Police officers are providing round-the-clock protection for vulnerable children in hospitals as fears continue to grow over rising gang violence.

Authorities have been working closely together recently to help crack down on so-called 'county lines' crime, in which drug dealers from the capital target towns and villages in the Home Counties as a way of spreading their networks.

They do so by forcing vulnerable young people to shift the substances, with Kent county councillors having previously warned children as young as five are becoming “lawless” and targeted by gangs.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust says a number of youngsters have been rushed to its hospitals this year with serious injuries as a result of gang related violence and exploitation.

These included two children admitted to its Hedgehog Ward in June under 24-hour police protection.

Over the last year, detectives in west Kent have brought down 20 people involved with county lines dealing, totalling just short of 55 years behind bars.

But health chiefs blocked attempts by KentOnline to obtain information on the number of child and adult patients receiving protection of this nature.

The trust rejected a request for the information - which included the ages of the patients, the length of time they spent under police protection, and a summary of the reasons for doing so - claiming disclosure would prejudice the prevention or detection of crime and may make itself as a public authority more vulnerable to crime.

Legislation states a constable has the power to remove a child to suitable accommodation and keep them there, or take steps to ensure the removal of a child from hospital is prevented, if they have reasonable cause to believe they would otherwise be likely to suffer significant harm.

Under law, no child may be kept in police protection for more than 72 hours, however, an application can be made for an emergency protection order if the boy or girl is deemed at immediate risk.

Nationwide, 65% of police forces reported the exploitation of children in a report into county lines crime last year.

The National Crime Agency says young people are groomed and enticed by gang members to work within the drugs distribution network, and groups will sometimes threaten family members of new recruits, using violence and intimidation to ensure engagement and co-operation.

Chief Superintendent Andy Pritchard of Kent Police’s Partnerships and Public Protection Unit said: "In instances where people have suffered an injury and require hospital treatment, the officers dealing with the case will assess the threat, risk and harm associated with the incident.

"Our new policing model places vulnerable people at its centre and we now have teams of officers who specialise in areas such as tracing missing children and investigating crimes in which vulnerable children or adults are the victims" - Chief superintendent Andy Pritchard

"If that person, regardless of age or background is deemed at risk then officers will stay with them whilst they are treated and, if appropriate, put a long term plan in place to help them stay safe.

"The Kent and Medway Gangs Strategy, which was published in June delivers a partnership approach to tackling gang related violence and is just one example of how we and our partners work together to protect the most vulnerable members of society.

"Our new policing model places vulnerable people at its centre and we now have teams of officers who specialise in areas such as tracing missing children and investigating crimes in which vulnerable children or adults are the victims.

"The gangs strategy supports this new approach by outlining how partners will work together to ensure Kent and Medway remain safe places to live, work and visit.

"This includes the positive action that is already being taken to prevent young people from joining gangs and to bring those responsible for committing gang-related crime to justice."