Help protect people from cuckooing in Merseyside
What is Cuckooing?
Cuckooing is a form of exploitation where criminals take over someone's home to use it as a base for illegal activities such as drug dealing, county lines or facilitating other crimes. Victims are often left with little choice but to cooperate.
Other types of cuckooing can include criminal gangs using the property to store money and/or weapons, using the property for sexual exploitation, or taking over the property as a place for them to live or to financially abuse the tenant.
The term "cuckooing" comes from the cuckoo bird, which takes over the nests of other birds.
Who is targeted?
Criminals are selective about who they target, a lot of the time victims are lonely, isolated, frequently drug users themselves and are already known to the police.
They will befriend someone and take advantage of them – inviting new people to their home, asking them to ‘look after something’ such as knife or gun and using their home as a base to sell or hide drugs.
If you believe a neighbour, family member or friend is vulnerable and at risk of being a victim of cuckooing, please trust your instincts, look out for anything strange or suspicious and report it as soon as possible.
Even if someone isn’t being cuckooed, they may be being exploited in some other way, so it’s always worth speaking out.
What signs should I look out for?
It's important to be aware of the signs that may indicate someone is a victim of cuckooing:
- Frequent visitors – An unusual number of people visiting the property at all hours or people who would not normally be associated with the tenant. There may also be an increase in new vehicles or bikes outside the property.
- Changes in behaviour – The resident may become withdrawn, anxious or show significant changes to their physical health.
- Neglect of property – The home may appear neglected, show signs of damage or signs of drug use nearby. There also could be a rise in antisocial behaviour (ASB) linked to the property.
How you can help
Merseyside Police will support anyone who is a victim of cuckooing and work with partners to safeguard victims and identify the criminals.
If you know of someone who is a victim, there are a variety of ways you can get in contact with us:
- Call 101 (in an emergency, if a crime is in progress or there is a threat to live, always call 999. Please mention ‘Operation Trespass’ and ‘Cuckooing’ when you call.
- Report online.
- Or, if you would like to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit Giving information anonymously | Crimestoppers
Drug and Alcohol Treatment providers in Merseyside
Wirral – Contact Wirral Ways. Support is also available on the Drug Talk website.
Knowsley – Contact Change Grow, Live.
Liverpool – Contact We Are With You. Support is also available from The Brink and NHS Mersey Care.
Sefton – Contact Change Grow, Live.
St Helens – Contact Change Grow, Live.
Get further support
The WMO provides support for ethnic minority groups where English may not be their first language.
The Beacon Counselling Trust offers free, tailored support and education to those affected by gambling-related harms, including 121 therapy, couples therapy, practical help, and long-term recovery support.
The Eyes Open campaign raises awareness about the growing issue of child criminal exploitation and county lines. To learn more about the signs of exploitation.