New legislation introduced to Parliament this week includes a new law that will mean that Cuckooing – a practice that involves criminals taking over the homes of vulnerable people to use for offences such as county lines drug dealing – will become a criminal offence with a maximum of five years in prison or a fine for those who flout the new law.
Catalyst Support helped victims of cuckooing since 2018, supporting victims, providing advice to those at risk, and aiming to prevent the risk of a property being closed by the courts. The service has long lobbied for cuckooing to be made a specific criminal offence.
Since the start of their work, the Cuckooing Service has received 574 referrals from across the county and disrupted 66 organised criminal groups, known as OCGs, and 162 local drug dealers.
Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, co-commissions the Catalyst Support Cuckooing Service in partnership with Public Health. She says:
“I’m absolutely delighted with the news that cuckooing is set to become a specific criminal offence. This is a chillingly sinister form of exploitation that transforms homes from safe, private havens into prisons.
While anyone can be affected, victims are usually vulnerable in some way. They may be single parents, affected by domestic abuse, have a history of substance abuse, or be young and with experience of the care system. Criminals will take advantage of this vulnerability to cause significant, lasting harm.
What is most worrying is that victims of cuckooing may remain hidden from police and the agencies poised to support them, through fear or perhaps because they have a history of offending.
But if you’re in this terrible situation, you are a victim, and we can and will help you. There is a way out. The brilliant team at Catalyst Support are changing lives. I urge anyone who needs support to get in touch.”
Catalyst Support Cuckooing Outreach Service Manager Karen Jones says:
“Catalyst Support Cuckooing team welcomes the first steps to recognising cuckooing as a stand-alone crime. We hope that making it a criminal offence will make a difference to the support available to victims, as well as deter perpetrators from exploiting vulnerable people.
Cuckooing has long been a hidden crime, and the impact it has on vulnerable victims has often not been recognised. We hope that the change in the legislation will help the victims to be seen and receive the support they require and build resilience to avoid further exploitation.
The guidance will help improve identification of cuckooing and allow professionals to take action. We will continue our work as an assertive outreach service and provide further support to both victims and partner agencies to help address cuckooing in the community.”
Visit our website to learn how to recognise cuckooing (link to Surrey Cuckooing – Catalyst Support) and make a referral (link to Specialist Outreach Referral Form)