Cuckooing

What is cuckooing?

Cuckooing occurs when a vulnerable individual is exploited in their home by groups or individuals so they can use the property for criminal purposes. This may range from using the premises to store, supply and cut drugs and other criminal behaviours. The term comes from the behaviour of cuckoo birds who take over the nests of other birds.

Victims of cuckooing are usually targeted by individuals looking to exploit vulnerable people. This could include people with mental health issues or physical disabilities, lonely, isolated people, or people who have or had an addiction problem. They will often establish a friendship or relationship with the victim to be granted easy access into their home and then they will threaten to cause them harm if they tell anyone.

Once an individual gains access, they will often invite a larger group to attend the property. Before you know it, the vulnerable person is outnumbered and overwhelmed and would be unable to remove them from their home. It is common for these perpetrators to use a property for a short amount of time, moving addresses frequently to reduce the chance of being caught.

Signs and Indicators of cuckooing

There are ways to tell if cuckooing is occurring in someone’s home. These include:

  • an increase in people entering and leaving the vulnerable person’s property at any given  time
  • an increase in anti-social behaviour exhibited by the people at the address
  • an increase in the number of people, usually young, gathering at the address
  • damage to the property
  • signs of drug use or an odour of drugs coming from the property
  • you have not seen the person who lives there recently and, when you have, they appear to be anxious or distracted or even have physical injuries or bruising

If several of these signs are happening at the same time, it is possible that cuckooing is occurring at the address.

What does Ealing Council do to resolve cases of cuckooing?

Different enforcement actions can be taken to stop cuckooing from taking place at a property.

The council has the power to provide a closure order, in alliance with the Anti-Social Behaviour; Crime and Policing Act 2014, so that perpetrators cannot enter the property of the victim for some time. Breaking a closure order is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment, meaning police can immediately arrest unwanted people found in a home with a closure order on it. Injunctions can also restrict who can enter a property.

In some cases where there is an immediate risk to someone, it may be necessary to take steps on an urgent basis to support them to move to alternative accommodation to safeguard them.

It is important to remember that perpetrators of cuckooing and exploitation may have support needs of their own such as around their mental health or substance misuse. Agencies should consider whether offering support or assessment to them may also help to mitigate risks.

How can I report cuckooing?

If you believe that someone you know is possibly being cuckooed, you can report this to:

LBE safer communities:    

LBE safeguarding adults:     

MET Police:         

  • telephone. 999 (emergency) or 101(non-emergency) as appropriate
  • report online
  • address: Acton Police Station, 250 High Street, Acton W3 9BH (24 hours)

LBE EC MARAC (for professionals only):
A multi-agency response (MARAC) is key to working to address concerns around cuckooing and exploitation and this is likely to include police, social care including children’s services, the local authority, housing, health workers, substance abuse support agencies, the voluntary sector and care providers. Practitioners must recognise, and by working in partnership, identify tactics to disrupt multiple types of exploitation. This will include an understanding of existing legislative opportunities at their disposal and target specific risks.                               

Cuckooing figures and further reports

County lines: Drug supply, vulnerability, and harm 2018 report