Police work closely in the community to keep vulnerable people safe, Plymouth
Plymouth based officers from Devon & Cornwall Police are working closely with some of the most vulnerable people in communities to protect them from being victims or repeat victims, of crime.
The local neighbourhood police team, who police the Princerock area, work closely within the community to take proactive action to put safeguarding and support measures in place for people who are vulnerable to exploitation.
Police Constable Becky Lawrence, who has led on this proactive safeguarding work, said: “Exploitation comes in a number of forms and shows through a variety of signs. We make sure to look out for these possible indicators of exploitation when we’re out on patrol and when speaking with the community.
“Cuckooing is one of the types of exploitation that has a really harmful impact on vulnerable people. If we suspect a vulnerable person is being cuckooed, our officers begin the process of working with local partners to put relevant safeguarding support in place to protect them from being a victim. We have also been able to help victims install CCTV at their address as well as security systems and lighting.”
Cuckooing takes its name from cuckoos who take over the nests of other birds. Whilst cuckooing can be disguised in many forms, the most common is where drug dealers or gang members take over a person’s home and use it to store or distribute drugs. They target vulnerable people and most often begin by befriending them; they will use coercive tactics to manipulate a victim, quickly building rapport so the victim feels they can trust the perpetrator.
Acting Chief Inspector Dom Nicholls, who heads up neighbourhood police teams across Plymouth, said: “It’s so important for us to make sure that the victims we encounter feel supported and safe. We continue to work closely within our communities to engage with the public and vulnerable people, showing that we are present, approachable and that we will take action to keep you safe. As a message to those who look to cause harm in our community, our officers will be taking proactive action to identify and arrest you.
“We will also work closely with partner agencies to do what we can to make sure vulnerable people are not victims of exploitation.
“I’d like to encourage the local community to come forward and report anything that doesn’t look quite right. Your information can help us protect a vulnerable person from further harm. Together, we can make sure Plymouth remains a safe place to live, work and visit.”
There are several signs to look out for that may indicate someone is a victim of cuckooing:
- An increase in people entering and leaving the property, especially at strange times
- Frequent visitors at unsociable hours
- Changes in a person’s daily routine
- Unusual smells coming from a property
- Suspicious, or unfamiliar vehicles outside an address
- You haven't seen the person who lives there recently, or when you have, they have been anxious or distracted
If you’re concerned about drug-related crime in your area or you think someone may be a victim of drug exploitation, please call us on 101. If it's an emergency, please call 999.
Information can also be passed completely anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers, just call 0800 555111, or via their website.
If you're in danger but you can't talk on the phone, you should still call 999, then follow these instructions depending on whether you're calling from a mobile or a landline.
For more information about cuckooing and county lines, which is the name given to drug dealing where OCGs use phone lines to move and supply drugs usually from cities into smaller towns, visit our website.
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