Cuckooing (Forced Home Invasion)

The Home Office guidance ‘Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: county lines’ defines cuckooing (also known as forced home invasion) as “a tactic used by criminals, typically drug dealers, to take over the homes of vulnerable individuals, such as care leavers or those with addiction, physical or mental health issues, and use the property as a base for criminal activity.”

Different types of cuckooing include:

• Taking over or using the property to take drugs;
• Using the property to manage the “workforce” of drug runners and to carry out acts of violence;
• Taking over or using the property for sex work / human trafficking;
• Taking over or using the property to store weapons;
• Taking over the property as a place to live;
• Taking over the property to financially abuse the adult who lives there.

Often, the adult whose property it is will be exploited, abused or coerced to engage in the criminal activity taking place.

In a similar way to mate crime activity, the person wanting to take over the property may begin by befriending the adult, before using coercive, abusive and/or harmful behaviours to achieve and sustain their objective.

For further information see: Mate Crime.

Vulnerability factors include, but are not limited to:

• Use of drugs and/or alcohol (current or former addiction);
• Existing connections with gangs or people involved in gangs;
• Lack of a safe/stable home environment;
• A history of being in care;
• Prior experiences of neglect, physical and/or sexual abuse;
• Being socially isolated;
• Mental, cognitive or physical health impairment;
• Learning disabilities;
• Be experiencing economic deprivation.

Signs of a cuckooed property include, but are not limited to:

• The presence of unfamiliar individuals coming and going from the property at all hours or an increase in key fob activity;
• An increase in foot traffic or loitering in the area around the property or takeaway deliveries at unusual hours;
• An increase in noise and disturbance levels, including late-night parties or arguments or other signs of anti-social behaviour such as littering around the property;
• Damage to the property, such as broken windows or doors; and
• Threats or intimidation towards other residents or neighbours.

Indicators that an adult may be a victim of cuckooing include, but are not limited to:

• Disengaging with support and / or services;
• Presenting with unexplained injuries;
• Paying off debts (including housing debts) in full and in cash;
• Appearing withdrawn and fearful of disclosing information for fear of ‘betraying’ the criminals, abuse or eviction;
• Associating with new unidentified people who are often present at the home;
• Change in appearance, either wearing expensive clothing or appearing unkempt.

Adults that are the victims of cuckooing are likely to have had traumatic experiences, even if they do not recognise them as such. Responses from a trauma informed perspective should always be considered, and the adult made central to the safeguarding process and any decisions that are made.

Use professional curiosity – bring together all evidence sources and actively seek different perspectives and professional inputs to build a picture of the whole story. 

For further information see: Professional Curiosity.

A multi-agency response is key to working to address concerns around cuckooing. It is vital that practitioners recognise, and by working partnership, identify tactics to disrupt behaviour. 

It may be decided that action should be taken to evict the offenders from the property through the application of civil orders such as Closure Orders and Community Protection Notices, which can be used to close down premises that are being used for criminal activities. Decision makers should always consider how the use of any order will impact on the adult’s safety.