Criminals seize the homes of hundreds of vulnerable Londoners

Hundreds of vulnerable Londoners have seen their homes taken over by criminal gangs using them to store drugs and weapons, a shocking report warned today.

Cuckoo cases in the capital have quadrupled from 79 in 2018 to 316 last year and continue to rise, the City Council labor investigation revealed.

The practice, which involves criminals taking over a person’s home primarily to use for storing, drinking or dealing drugs or for prostitution, is almost certainly more widespread as less than half of the councils were able to provide data on how many cases they had treated. during the last four years.

Victims are more likely to be older men, who often suffer from learning disabilities, mental health problems, or have had a substance abuse problem.

“Loneliness, low self-esteem and social isolation were also identified as key factors affecting an individual’s likelihood of being attacked,” the report found.

Parliamentarians have called for the cuckoo, which was featured prominently in the BBC series Happy Valley, to be criminalized as part of a review of the 2015 Modern Slavery Act.

Labor member of the London Assembly, Unmesh Desai, who commissioned the inquiry into the capital issue, has warned that the number of cases is likely to be much higher due to inconsistent reporting from both councils and the Metropolitan Police.

“Cuckooing is a terrible crime that harms some of the most vulnerable in our society,” he said.

“Having your home taken over by criminals is traumatic and anti-social behavior that takes place on the property causes chaos in neighboring homes.

“This report shows that registered cases of cuckooing are on the rise. But we still don’t know the true scale of the problem with some councils not yet recording data. Too often, deception is hidden in plain sight, and without knowing the real picture, we are unable to implement the most effective plans to address this crime and support victims.

“I found that some councils are already working closely with the police, so it can be done, but we need a more consistent approach so that all cuckoo victims get the help they need, regardless of where they live. We need better guidance from the government to make this happen.”

The report highlighted cases including a man in his sixties with learning difficulties whose housing association flat was taken over by a local group of street drinkers and drug addicts.

Once the group entered his property, he was forced to sleep in the living room as another man had occupied his bedroom. They stole her clothes and took her bank cards.

In another case, a local authority revealed that the perpetrators would wait outside the council’s addiction service building to prepare a victim who had previously been removed from a property due to cuckoo.

The investigation found that cuckooing needs “sharper focus” and more public awareness as it is “currently an underreported crime”.

It made ten recommendations, including that the mayor should work with the government, London councils and the victims’ commissioner to develop guidance for local authorities and that the Met should ensure its officers consistently record cases using a “recently flagged” flag. developed in police systems”. .

In response to questions about how the force is working to address cuckooing, a Met spokesperson said: “MPS has developed guidance for officers on how to deal with cuckooing. This includes guidance on the law, identifying vulnerable people or places, how Safer Neighborhoods Team Officers can help by making regular visits, working in partnership with other agencies, and obtaining a closure order when antisocial behavior is associated with a local.

“Cuckooing reporting has also been simplified.”

Cuckooing is often linked to drug gangs from the county lines, but many councils said it was more often committed by local drug gangs in the capital.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the Modern Slavery Act often does not cover cuckooing if the victim has done nothing more than agree to their home being used for criminal activity, for example the supply of drugs.

But if they were forced to work, threatened or attacked, then charges could be filed under existing laws.

The Home Office has said cuckoo is “totally unacceptable and the government is determined to tackle it and those who perpetrate this abuse.”

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Criminals seize the homes of hundreds of vulnerable Londoners

Criminals seize the homes of hundreds of vulnerable Londoners

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