Police Urge Public to Help Tackle Cuckooing in Bodmin

Police in Bodmin are asking the public to be vigilant and assist in protecting vulnerable individuals from criminals exploiting them through cuckooing.

What is Cuckooing?

Cuckooing is a practice where criminals take over someone’s home to use it for illegal activities, most commonly drug dealing. The term comes from the behaviour of cuckoo birds, who take over the nests of others. Police in Cornwall are urging the community to stay alert and help identify possible victims of this crime, which targets vulnerable people.

Inspector Adam Stonehill of the local police explained that drug dealers often befriend vulnerable individuals and manipulate them into giving up their homes. “They build rapport quickly so the victim feels they can trust the perpetrator,” he said. These criminals may use coercion or threats, and their victims often become isolated from friends and family.

Signs of Cuckooing

Police are asking the public to watch for key signs that could indicate a person is a victim of cuckooing:

• An increase in people coming and going from a property, particularly at strange hours.
• Suspicious or unfamiliar vehicles outside a home.
• Changes in the daily routine of someone you know.
• A person appearing anxious or distracted, especially if they haven’t been seen for a while.

Victims of cuckooing are often socially isolated or struggling with mental health issues, substance misuse, or disabilities.

How to Help

If you suspect that someone may be a victim of cuckooing, police encourage you to contact them by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency. Information can also be passed anonymously via Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111.

To learn more about cuckooing and County Lines, which refers to organised criminal groups using phone lines to distribute drugs, visit the Devon and Cornwall Police website.

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