Why don’t victims ask for help?
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’.