The Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, Martyn Underhill, met with vulnerable individuals who have been the victims of cuckooing to talk with them about their experience during his recent community day held in Weymouth.
Cuckooing is the term used to describe how a persons’ home can be taken over by drug dealers to provide a base whilst in the area. Invariably these dealers are from large towns like London or Liverpool and the people they target are vulnerable for reasons such as drug habits or due to their mental health, educational needs or disability.
Mr Underhill said: “These dealers easily identify those they can prey on. We met with a man who was himself a drug user and his need for a fix was used as a means of taking over both his home and his life. Within days of the dealers meeting him, he was pressured into delivering drugs for them out of fear of what they would do to him if did not comply. Now the police are aware of his situation regular checks are being made on him and other vulnerable adults in the Weymouth area.”
During the day, Martyn also walked through the town centre with members of the Neighbourhood Policing team to see first-hand the problem of street drinkers and beggers’ in the area.
He also spent some time with members of staff from his office who were running a consultation on the policing element of the council tax in Morrison’s supermarket. The purpose of this was is to see whether residents of Dorset would support an increase. Details of this consultation can be found at www.dorsetpoliceprecept.com
