What is cuckooing?
This can include consuming, dealing, or harvesting illegal drugs, or it can be financial extortion. Cuckooing is a serious crime, and the most common form of cuckooing is drug dealers taking over a property to deal drugs.
If you know or suspect an individual is a victim of cuckooing, report it to the police as this is a criminal offence.
Who is at risk of cuckooing?
Anyone could be potentially cuckooed, but some groups are more at risk than others:
- People with substance misuse, past or present
- Physical or mental health problems
- Someone with learning difficulties
- Someone who may be vulnerable by living alone or age
- Victims of domestic abuse
What are the signs of someone being cuckooed?
- Lots more people seen entering and leaving the property.
- Lots of different cars or motorbikes outside a property.
- An increase in anti-social behaviour, such as loud music or shouting.
- People turning up / leaving the property at unsociable hours during the day/night.
- A lack of contact with the resident who lives there, or you have not seen them in some time but have noticed many people you have not seen before at the property.
What can you do to help?
If you suspect this is happening in a PA housing property, please contact the police and report the issue to us. There are several processes that the police and the relevant authorities can take, such as offering support, frequent checks at the property and seeking an injunction against the property.
Contact usWe will work with partner agencies to
Awareness
Raise awareness of cuckooing and how this impact communities and individuals
Agencies
Work closely with the Police service and other agencies such as the Adult Social Care Service to identify and support those who might be being cuckooed
Support
Work with support staff to help prevent further exploitation and engage with support to help them to live safer lives
