Cuckooing to be made criminal offence in Scotland in new laws to protect young people

Cuckooing is to be made a specific criminal offence in Scotland in a package of new laws to make streets safer.

The legislation, designed to better protect children and vulnerable people from exploitation, is to be introduced to the UK Parliament on Tuesday.

Cuckooing is a highly exploitative practice where criminals take control of a vulnerable person’s home without consent to conduct illegal activities like drug dealing – which could see perpetrators facing five years behind bars.

Children will also be protected from the growing threat of predators generating AI images and from online sexual abuse as the UK becomes the first country in the world to create new AI sexual abuse offences.

The UK Government will introduce a specific offence for predators who run websites designed for other paedophiles to share vile child sexual abuse content or advice on how to groom children, punishable by up to ten years in prison.

The Border Force in Scotland will be given the necessary powers to prevent the distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material, which is often filmed abroad, by allowing officers to compel an individual who they reasonably suspect poses a sexual risk to children to unlock their digital devices for inspection. Depending on the severity, this could be met with up to three years in prison.

The measures will be included in the landmark Crime and Policing Bill, set to be introduced to Parliament tomorrow, which sits at the heart of the UK government’s Safer Streets Mission and Plan for Change.

Scottish secretary Ian Murray said: “By cracking down on criminals right across the UK, the Crime and Policing Bill will better protect people in every corner of Scotland – a crucial part of our Safer Streets mission and Plan for Change.

“Whether it’s protecting our children from online predators, tackling drug dealers or helping cut vehicle thefts, these laws will give important new powers to police and the courts to safeguard our communities.”

Sophisticated electronic devices used by criminals to steal vehicles in Scotland will also be banned as the UK government works to prevent crimes from impacting working people’s lives.

Police officers and the courts will be given new powers to target criminals who steal vehicles using electronic devices such as ‘signal jammers’, along with the organised groups who manufacture and supply them.

Previously prosecution for handling these devices was only possible if police could prove that they had been used to commit a specific crime.

Through changes to be made via the Crime and Policing Bill, the burden of proof will fall on the owner to prove they did not intend or suspect that the device would be used in connection with an offence to avoid being prosecuted – which could result in a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “It is vital we give the police every tool we can to ensure our response to crime adapts as criminals and the technology they exploit for personal gain do.

“This government will do everything in our power to better protect the people of Scotland.”