4. Why don’t victims ask for help?
Victims of cuckooing are unlikely to contact the police or other safeguarding agencies to ask for help due to fear of:
- Eviction
- Adult or children’s social services intervention
- Being arrested for drug offences
- Losing access to drugs, alcohol or money
- Being labelled a ‘grass’
- The perpetrators seeking revenge
Feelings of shame and embarrassment may also prevent a victim from reporting that their home has been cuckooed
Crucially – some victims of cuckooing may not recognise that their relationship with the perpetrator is exploitative. Rather, they may view it as beneficial or believe the perpetrator to be ‘a mate’.
