Cuckooing day of action helps vulnerable people

As part of Northamptonshire Police’s week of action against drug harm, officers took to the streets yesterday (July 6) to visit addresses suspected of being cuckooed.

“Cuckooing” is a form of crime in which drug dealers take over the home of a vulnerable person in order to use it as a base.

Alongside partners from the two local authorities, neighbourhood officers from both the west and north of the county visited a number of addresses - making arrests of suspected drug dealers and offering support to vulnerable people whose homes have been take over.

Chief Inspector Nathan Murray, said: “The one place where everyone should feel safe is their home address and being cuckooed by drug dealers creates a horrible environment for the person whose home is it.

“The people these dealers often target are drug users and other vulnerable people and we won’t stand for this.

“That’s why we were out in force yesterday, alongside our partners, safeguarding those vulnerable people and locking up the ones taking advantage of them.”

In total, 12 addresses across the County were visited with safeguarding referrals made and information passed onto housing associations and partners.

Chief Inspector Murray, added: “Our neighbourhood policing teams have been bolstered in recent years and I want to reassure our local communities that this work is not just limited to one day.

“Our work cannot just be about enforcement, it must also be about safeguarding and protecting, and we will continue working hard in order to do this.”

Councillor David Smith, West Northamptonshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Engagement, and Regulatory Services, said: “We are determined to send out a strong message that Northamptonshire is no place for drugs and those who prey on the most vulnerable in our communities will be brought to justice.

“We ask anyone with information about drug dealing or cuckooing to please pass that on, anonymously, via Crimestoppers. By working together, we can help put a stop to criminal behaviour and see offenders face the consequences of their actions.”