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Cuckooing 

"Cuckooing” is when someone takes over another person’s home without their consent. This often affects people who may be vulnerable, such as those living alone, experiencing mental health challenges, or struggling with substance misuse. 

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Cuckooing is a form of exploitation and abuse, and it can put residents in serious danger.

The person using the home may:

  • Stay there without permission
  • Use the home to deal or store drugs
  • Bring in other people, causing disruption or risk


Signs to look out for 

You may notice changes in someone’s home or behaviour, such as: 

  • Increased visitors at unusual times (late at night or very frequently) 
  • People coming and going who don’t seem to live there 
  • The resident appearing withdrawn, anxious, or frightened 
  • Signs of neglect in the home (for example, rubbish building up or damage) 
  • The resident no longer answering the door or engaging as usual 
  • Noise, antisocial behaviour, or suspected drug use 
  • The resident being seen outside while others remain inside their home 

These signs don’t always mean cuckooing is happening, but they may suggest someone needs help. 


What to do if you’re worried 

If there’s immediate danger 

  • Call 999 straight away if you believe someone is at risk or a crime is happening.

If it’s not an emergency 

You can:

  • Contact the Police, call 101 or report it online
  • Speak to your Housing Officer, our Community Safety team or Safeguarding team directly
  • Speak to someone you trust. This could be a staff member, support worker, or local service

Please do not try to intervene yourself, as this could put you at risk.

To let us know, you can contact us:

Report cuckooing
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How we can help 

We take concerns about cuckooing very seriously. Depending on the situation, we may: 

  • Work with the Police and partner agencies 
  • Carry out welfare checks and safeguarding referrals 
  • Put support in place for the resident 
  • Take legal action where needed 
  • Support residents to regain control of their home 

 Our priority is to protect residents and keep our communities safe. 


Support for residents 

If you’re affected by cuckooing, or worried about someone you know: 

  • You will be listened to and treated with understanding 
  • We will work with you to find the right support 
  • You do not have to deal with this alone 

 

Remember 

  • Cuckooing is exploitation and is never the resident’s fault 
  • Reporting concerns could help keep someone safe 
  • All reports are taken seriously and handled sensitively