Recognising and Responding to Cuckooing
What is ‘Cuckooing’?
“Cuckooing” is a form of abuse, when an individual or individuals take over the home, or part of a home, of a “vulnerable” person to conduct criminal activities. In its most basic form, it is ‘material abuse’ and frequently includes other forms of abuse and exploitation.
Research indicates that those at greater risk include: young care experienced adults with support needs; people with a history of substance dependence; and/or individuals who have experienced trauma which impacts on their ability to recognise that they are being ‘abused’ and/or their ability to protect themselves from it.
Those who ‘cuckoo’ someone’s home will use a range of methods to coerce and manipulate to gain access to free accommodation to conduct criminal activities including drug dealing, fraud/financial abuse, modern slavery and trafficking.
When people have been cuckooed, it often leaves them and their family members feeling powerless to intervene. Additional challenges arise when a person is over 18 years of age and has the mental capacity to make decisions regarding with whom they ‘choose’ to live with and/or ‘allow’ to stay in their home. Historically, the most proactive action has been via the use of the Anti-Social Behaviour or Housing legislation, however, this has not always a big enough deterrent or solution and can lead to the victim being blamed, evicted or criminalised rather than the perpetrator being held to account.
Improving how we tackle cuckooing
The UK government has introduced a standalone criminal offence for ‘cuckooing’ as part of the Crime and Policing Act 2026. This new Criminal Offence carries a large fine and/or a maximum term of imprisonment of up to 5 years. As a result, our legal framework now:
“Cuckooing” is a form of abuse, when an individual or individuals take over the home, or part of a home, of a “vulnerable” person to conduct criminal activities. In its most basic form, it is ‘material abuse’ and frequently includes other forms of abuse and exploitation.
Research indicates that those at greater risk include: young care experienced adults with support needs; people with a history of substance dependence; and/or individuals who have experienced trauma which impacts on their ability to recognise that they are being ‘abused’ and/or their ability to protect themselves from it.
Those who ‘cuckoo’ someone’s home will use a range of methods to coerce and manipulate to gain access to free accommodation to conduct criminal activities including drug dealing, fraud/financial abuse, modern slavery and trafficking.
When people have been cuckooed, it often leaves them and their family members feeling powerless to intervene. Additional challenges arise when a person is over 18 years of age and has the mental capacity to make decisions regarding with whom they ‘choose’ to live with and/or ‘allow’ to stay in their home. Historically, the most proactive action has been via the use of the Anti-Social Behaviour or Housing legislation, however, this has not always a big enough deterrent or solution and can lead to the victim being blamed, evicted or criminalised rather than the perpetrator being held to account.
Improving how we tackle cuckooing
The UK government has introduced a standalone criminal offence for ‘cuckooing’ as part of the Crime and Policing Act 2026. This new Criminal Offence carries a large fine and/or a maximum term of imprisonment of up to 5 years. As a result, our legal framework now:
- Recognises the unique and complex nature of cuckooing,
- Shifts the focus from treating victims as complicit to acknowledging and consenting to being abused/exploited,
- Facilitates more effective safeguarding responses because it provides all safeguarding partners with legal clarity and the ability to act effectively.
Who is the course for?
It is relevant for staff working for all statutory and non-statutory Community Safety Partners including Health, Social Care, Housing, Police and voluntary/independent sector organisations.
The full course will enable delegates to:
It is relevant for staff working for all statutory and non-statutory Community Safety Partners including Health, Social Care, Housing, Police and voluntary/independent sector organisations.
The full course will enable delegates to:
- Understand the legal framework and social dynamics surrounding ‘Cuckooing’ and the inter-relationship with Safeguarding responsibilities.
- Be confident about how the new legislation can be used within a safeguarding context to prevent and deal with it, if it has occurred.
- Identify, report, and support victims and potential victims before the situation creates greater challenges and long-term, irretrievable damage.
- Recognise the importance of building networks with safeguarding and community safety partners, who can support effective multi-agency and community-based safeguarding strategies to disrupt and interrupt this form of abuse.
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About the Trainer
The session will be facilitated by Lin Sands who has over 40 years of experience as a consultant, practitioner and trainer, nationally and internationally. She began her career as a Police Officer and later became a Specialist Detective in Public Protection Teams and served as an Independent Investigator for a joint Home Office/Department of Health. Recently Lin spent 3 years as the Police & Justice Lead for the NWG Network, focusing on modernising and updating their Disruption toolkit to safeguard children and young adults from all forms of exploitation, modern slavery, and human trafficking. Lin specialises in complex safeguarding issues, including domestic abuse, exploitation and modern slavery. |
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