South Essex Cuckooing: Rise in gangs targeting vulnerable in pandemic

Gangs selling drugs often target disabled people or those with addictions, using their homes as a base to sell and stash them.

Jim White, detective chief inspector at Essex Violence and Vulnerability, revealed how the problem has grown worse since the pandemic began last year.

Mr White said: “Cuckooing is part of the drug dealers’ business model, and it’s more prevalent now because of Covid.

“The gangs would use Airbnb, guest houses or hotels to set up but now they’ve been forced to use individuals’ houses.

“When we find dealers on the streets from London, they’ve all got somewhere they’ll go back to.

“Covid has made travelling on the train more risky for them, so they prefer to find a base to operate from.”

In Southend, a victim of cuckooing revealed how criminals completely took over his life last year.

He had befriended criminals during a night out on the promise of employment.

They then took full control of his home and forced him to live in a building in another county.

In another case, a vulnerable person in Southend was rescued from suspected cuckooing by Essex Police and the council.

A court order was placed on the flat in the Quantock block of flats to stop anyone other than the victim, police, and the council all entering the property.

Groups linked to ‘County Lines’ gangsters have also been known to target the elderly and young mothers, often befriending their victims by offering free gifts, protection or drugs.

The gang members then move into the victim’s home and turn it into a hive of criminal activity - a staple tactic for county lines drug gangs.

Victims find themselves trapped and threatened and in some cases, abandon their homes.

Detective Inspector White added: “Every case is slightly different, but we’d look for people who you wouldn’t expect to see at the premises. Are there more people staying there than there should be? Is the property a mess? Is the owner guarded and fearful when talking?”