London Drug Gangs Taking Over Vulnerable People’s Homes

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London Drug Gangs Taking Over Vulnerable Peoples
Homes
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The crime known as cuckooing, where drug dealers
and drug gangs befriend vulnerable individuals so
they can use their homes to stash drugs, money,
weapons and stolen goods, is escalating to
alarming levels in the UK. Police say thousands
of British homes are being infiltrated by
ruthless gangs from London who utilize the
premises and turn it into what is known as a
trap house. Staying one step ahead of the law,
the drug criminals often use violence, drugs and
threats to keep their victims silent. Cuckooing
is not new to the UK, it is a ploy that has been
used by drug lords and gang members for many
years. Recently, however, this cold-hearted
tactic is being used more and more as police
crack down on illegal drug distribution through
increased targeted raids.
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Ruthless Drug Dealers Turn Homes Into Crack Dens
Police sergeant, Diane Hill, who works for the
Metropolitan police, said Thousands of people
across the UK are affected by this. In the last
month in Greenwich West we have had three
cuckooing incidents. Across the whole of Britain
its a vast problem. Sergeant Hill added The
gangs befriend people who are too vulnerable to
realise whats going on They are using their
flat for dealing and it is not good thing. Maybe
the dealers will pay the electricity bill or buy
a TV and then they take over the flat and people
are so vulnerable they dont realise the
consequences.
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County Police Work Together As Cuckooing Takes
Hold Of UK
County police all over the UK are very much aware
of the scale of the problem. Cuckooing mainly
affects the poorer communities within the
UK. Vulnerable individuals are specifically
targeted as they are considered easy to
manipulate and less likely to report the problem.
 Dealers are also callously targeting teenagers
to sell the drugs for them. Counties all over
the UK including Essex, Northants, Yorkshire,
Devon, Bedfordshire, London, Cambridgeshire,
Hertfordshire, Cardiff and Sussex are all
reporting incidents of cuckooing. Many of the
drug gangs are London based and this is their way
of widening their drug distribution net.
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The National Police Chiefs Council lead on drugs,
Commander Simon Bray confirmed that police from
all over the UK are working together in order to
reduce the scale of the problem he said
Cuckooing persists as a problem it is a big
problem. There has been investment in
coordinating a national hub to bring in
information form all forces to gather
information.
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Cuckooing Can Involve Heinous Acts Of Crime
BBC news recently reported that according to HM
Courts and Tribunal Service, there has been a
total of 187 cuckooing convictions in the South
of England alone over the past three years. It
is evident from police and news reports that many
vulnerable individuals are greatly suffering as a
result. In some cases extreme violence is used by
the drug dealers in order to keep control of trap
houses and their occupants. In June 2018, two
men from London were arrested and convicted of
raping two vulnerable women whos homes they took
over in Carlisle to sell and store drugs. The two
London drug dealers were combinely sentenced to
30 years imprisonment for rape, drugs offences,
possession of crack cocaine with intent to
supply, money laundering and actual bodily harm.
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This is just one of many cuckooing examples where
shocking levels of violence have been involved.
The vast majority of cuckooing incidents go
unreported through fear of reprisals from the
gangs responsible.
Drug Addicted Individuals Are Particularly
Vulnerable To Cuckooing
Those that suffer from an addiction to Class A
drugs such as crack cocaine or heroin, will do
almost anything to satisfy the constant craving
and compulsion of their drug addiction. Drug
gangs will often reel addicted individuals in by
keeping them supplied in drugs and initially
gaining their trust. This trust is then exploited
as the dealers take over the individuals home and
life whilst they are at their most desperate and
vulnerable. Not only will these vulnerable
addicts fear the threat of violence from the
gangs responsible, but they will also fear their
supply of drugs being cut off by the dealers.
This makes those with a drug problem prime
targets for this particular despicable crime.
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What To Do If You Are A Victim Of Cuckooing
If you are a victim of cuckooing it is vital that
you tell someone who can help. The police have
the power to ensure your safety. If you have a
disability or mental health problem be sure to
confide in your mental health services, housing
association, social worker or carer. Please tell
someone, so that you are not alone in dealing
with the problem! Drug dealers thrive on fear
they count on your fear in order to keep their
illicit businesses safe. If you have an
addiction to drugs and want help, please get in
touch with your local drug and alcohol services.
You can also report the issue anonymously to
Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, who are currently
running a campaign to clamp down on cuckooing in
the UK.
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• For private addiction treatment help and
  residential rehab for drug addiction or alcohol
  rehab in London or Essex area, please call Step
  by Step Recovery directly or complete our online
  assessment form.
• Sources and References
• https//crimestoppers-uk.org/campaigns-dia/news/20
  18/mar/let-s-stop-cuckooing
• https//www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/01/uk-g
  angs-using-vulnerable-peoples-homes-to-stash-drugs
  
• http//www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/17010779.rapists
  -who-used-women-in-carlisle-for-drugs-offences-jai
  led-for-30-years/
• https//www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-essex-444
  76036/county-lines-drug-gang-stabbed-me-in-the-fac
  e

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