What is 'cuckooing' and who is at risk?

Legislation is being brought before the UK Parliament to make “cuckooing” a specific offence in Scotland.

Cuckooing or home takeover is when criminals take over the home of a vulnerable person to use it for criminal activity.

It’s named after the nest-stealing behaviour of wild cuckoo birds – which lay their eggs in the nests of other birds’ leaving them to raise their young.

Vulnerable victims are usually targeted; this could mean they are elderly, or living with substance addiction or have physical or mental disabilities.

Their property could be used to store or deal drugs from or to store weapons, for example.

Cuckooing has appeared in the plotlines of television shows, including in the third season of Happy Valley, in Line of Duty and Sherwood.

Scotland

Cuckooing to be made criminal offence in Scotland

Legislation designed to better protect children and vulnerable people from exploitation is to be introduced to UK Parliament.

While no specific data is collected on cuckooing, the National Police Chiefs’ Council reported that during a week of intense investigation, between November and December 2024, officers visited 853 suspected properties across the UK.

The policy paper for the new legislation states: “Victims of cuckooing are often targeted by perpetrators because they are vulnerable.

“Having their home taken over and used for criminality can have a devastating impact on already vulnerable individuals and can be made worse by fear that they will not be believed or treated as a victim.

“Introducing a new offence of cuckooing will not only strengthen the response to perpetrators but will also support better identification of and support for victims.”

The Crime and Policing Bill will also target child criminal exploitation, making it an offence for an adult to use a child to commit a crime.

In a report by the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice, Police Scotland figures showed that, between March 2022 and February 2023, 236 cases of concern were raised about children potentially being exploited.

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.”

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.”