Campaign to end cuckooing - where criminals use vulnerable people's homes - in Yorkshire

The toolkit has been produced by academics at the University of Leeds, in conjunction with West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council.

Dr Laura Bainbridge and Dr Amy Loughery, of Leeds’ School of Law, researched both how cuckooing – named after the nest-stealing ways of wild cuckoos – occurs and possible prevention strategies. The result is an information booklet, risk assessment tool, safeguarding information, leaflets, posters and an animation that can be used by agencies when they encounter someone potentially at risk.

Dr Bainbridge, who is also the chair of the Cuckooing Research & Prevention Network, said: “Cuckooing is a highly predatory practice that causes harm to individuals, families and communities.

“The Preventing & Disrupting Cuckooing Victimisation Toolkit has been designed to increase professional awareness of cuckooing, improve the identification of potential victims, and enhance safeguarding practices. It is my sincere hope that the toolkit assists in protecting vulnerable people, allowing them to feel safe in their homes”

The toolkit has been heralded by former minister Iain Duncan Smith. He said: “Cuckooing is an appalling practice that is even now spreading through our communities hurting the most vulnerable.

“It is vital that police and other frontline professionals learn how to spot the signs and are able to immediately safeguard the victims whilst bringing the vile perpetrators under the full force of the law.”

“I have, with the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), long campaigned to make cuckooing a criminal offence and as such, I commend the work the University of Leeds with its partners are doing in the West Yorkshire region.

“This should be replicated across other regions of our country as well. I call on the Government now to make cuckooing a criminal offence, as I had persuaded the previous government to do as well.”

Before the General Election, legislation against cuckooing had been added into a Bill but it did not reach law stage.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has indicated that the Government would support anti-cuckooing legislation.

Speaking earlier this year in the Commons, she said: “We do support this issue. I think this is immensely important.

"There are a series of issues that were included in the last Criminal Justice Bill that fell when the election was called that we believe need to be taken forward and did have cross-party support”

Detective Inspector Anne Rannard, from the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre said: “Cuckooing is a feature of many different crime types and significantly for my area of work. Victims of cuckooing are often vulnerable and potentially at risk of harm. It is a complex issue and requires a multi-agency response.”