'Cuckooing' criminals are targeting homes in Sheffield

Officers tackling drug use and anti-social behaviour in the Sharrow area were this week granted the orders on four properties which were previously closed down following significant concerns for vulnerable residents.

Last year, police shut properties on Leverton Gardens, Washington Road and Cliff Street due to drug use and anti-social behaviour.

The orders mean no-one apart from the tenants, South Yorkshire Police, the NHS or Sheffield City Council can enter for the next three months.

Cuckooing is when criminals take over the properties of vulnerable people using coercion and sometimes force, and use them as a base to deal drugs or conduct criminal activity. Often, they have no prior links to the property.

“Not only can this have a devastating impact on the occupant, but the ripple effect is that neighbours lives can be blighted by anti-social behaviour, drug use, noise and low-level crime,” PC Ben Brown from South Yorkshire Police said.

He added: “Closure orders aren’t just a piece of paper, they are really important when it comes to us safeguarding people at risk of exploitation.

“When closure orders are policed robustly, as they have been in Sharrow, closure orders have a hugely positive impact on everyone in the community.

“We have already seen a significant reduction in anti-social behaviour, drug use and drug dealing around these problematic addresses. It means vulnerable people are safer in their homes, demand is reduced and quality of life improves.”