New campaign launched to help spot the signs of cuckooing in Bedfordshire

The Safer Central Community Safety Partnership has launched a social media campaign to raise awareness of the increasing criminal activity known as cuckooing in Bedfordshire.

Named after the cuckoo that steals other birds’ nests, this is the practice of drugs gangs taking over the home of a vulnerable person in order to use it as a base for their criminal network.

Last year, Bedfordshire Police identified more than 80 cuckooed locations in the county with these addresses becoming a base for the production or dealing of drugs, as well as exploitation of the person living there.

Victims are befriended by the dealers as they may be vulnerable, isolated, and often drug users themselves. The victims can be robbed, threatened, bullied or even assaulted, sometimes seriously.

The campaign on the Safer Central Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages shows residents how to spot the signs, which may also include an increase in:

- People entering the property

- Cars or bikes outside the property

- Anti-social behaviour

- Litter outside

- People coming and going at strange times

There may also be:

- Damage to the door, or the door being propped open

- Unknown people pressing buttons to gain access to the building

- You have not seen the resident recently, or when you have, they have been anxious or distracted

- No engagement with family or services

- The resident will not open the door of their property

- Phone disconnected.

Cllr Ian Dalgarno, Executive Member for Community Services at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “Coronavirus has changed how we all operate.

"Unfortunately, as a result of lockdown and the restrictions on movement, the Covid-19 emergency has seen drug dealers and other organised crime gangs move off the streets and into vulnerable people’s homes.

“Many victims may be unable or afraid to speak out, so we need their friends and neighbours to speak up on their behalf and help to identify people at risk of violence and exploitation by these gangs."