Cuckooing

Cuckooing is a practice where people take over a person’s home and use the property to facilitate exploitation. It takes its name from cuckoos who take over the nests of other birds.

There are different types of cuckooing, criminals could be;

  • using the property to grow, deal, store or take drugs
  • using the property to sex work
  • using the property to store weapons
  • taking over the property as a place for them to live
  • taking over the property to financially abuse the tenant

Overtime gang members will select members to build rapport with the victim, offer incentives (such as relationship, friendship, drugs or alcohol (or both), money or clothing) to continue to cuckoo the victims address.

However, these friendly gestures never last long, as the gang members or drug dealers may threaten the victim if they decided to stop their criminal activity. Gang members will also discourage family or friends and support workers from visiting the vulnerable adult’s address.

To find out more about cuckooing, please visit the Hertfordshire County Council website.

Reporting Cuckooing

If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999. If you need help, but cannot speak, use silent help – call 999 and press 55 and the operator will respond.

If you are not in immediate danger and would like to report cuckooing you can;