Hertfordshire: A focus on keeping communities safe from cuckooing

We are offering ways to identify those at risk of being exploited and groomed into a life of drug dealing and associated risks in Hertfordshire in a new campaign.

The campaign, being run in collaboration with Hertfordshire Constabulary, Hertfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board & the district councils, encourages anyone with information about organised drug gangs to contact our charity 100% anonymously.  

Many vulnerable adults are at great risk of having their homes ‘cuckooed’, where criminals take over the property to facilitate exploitation. The most common form of cuckooing is where drug dealers or gang members take over a person’s home and use it to store and/or distribute drugs.

They may begin by befriending the adult at risk and then offer the victim something of interest to them, this could be a relationship, friendship, drugs/alcohol, money or clothing. In exchange, they may ask to ‘borrow’ a room, to store something or invite other ‘friends’ to meet at the property. 

Gradually, however, the ‘benefits’ reduce, and may eventually come to an end, and more people will come and go from the address. Criminals may threaten the adult at risk verbally or physically if they try to put a stop to their activities. They will also discourage family or friends and support workers from visiting the vulnerable adult’s address.

Some people may be forced to leave their homes, making themselves homeless whilst the gangs are left free to sell drugs in their absence.
 
This new campaign also warns that organised criminal gangs are targeting younger people, leading to them being trafficked, groomed and exploited into selling and running drugs locally. Young people are commonly offered gifts of money, clothes and food and feel loyal to those grooming them, in return for couriering illegal drugs and money across cities, towns and villages, known as ‘County Lines’.

Please note: With Crimestoppers and Fearless for young people, computer IP addresses are never traced and no-one will ever know you contacted us. For telephone calls via 0800 555 111, there is no caller line display, no 1471 facility and calls have never been traced.

Criminals might cuckoo either a home or a short-term let as a drugs base. Signs of this can include:

• An increase in people entering and leaving
• An increase in cars or bikes outside
• Possible increase in anti-social behaviour 
• Increase in rubbish/drug paraphernalia & signs of drug use
• Suspicious vehicles or people at an address
• A neighbour has not been seen for a while, or they may show a change in mood/demeanour (e.g. secretive/withdrawn/aggressive/emotional)
• Older members of the community unexpectedly driven around by unknown individuals.
   

“The experience of being ‘cuckooed’ has a hugely negative impact on victims. People who have their home taken over by these criminal gangs experience high levels of physical violence, psychological abuse and exploitation. Female victims have been known to disproportionately experience the additional torment of sexual coercion and assault.

“Those with a disability, poor mental health, substance addiction or elderly and lonely are at greater risk of being faced with violence and intimidation. They would rely on their friends and neighbours to raise the alarm with concerns.

“Exploitation and cuckooing ruins lives and nobody should have to live in fear in their own home. We are asking people to remain vigilant to the signs of a property being cuckooed and we are appealing to everyone to help protect vulnerable members in our community from drug activity by telling Crimestoppers and Fearless for young people anonymously what you know about criminal activity.”
 
Annabelle Goodenough, Crimestoppers South East Regional Manager