Police close home in Sheffield used by 'cuckooing' drug dealers

Police have closed another home in Sheffield as part of a crackdown on drug dealers targeting vulnerable residents – a cruel practice known as ‘cuckooing’.
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The closure order for the property on Washington Road is the fifth they have secured in Sharrow in recent weeks, with the others being for addresses on Leverton Gardens and Cliff Street.

It prevents anyone other than the tenant and authorised agencies like the police from accessing the property.

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Police attach notices to a door on Washington Road in Sharrow, on which they have secured a closure order as part of efforts to prevent drug dealers targeting vulnerable residents in a practice known as cuckooingPolice attach notices to a door on Washington Road in Sharrow, on which they have secured a closure order as part of efforts to prevent drug dealers targeting vulnerable residents in a practice known as cuckooing
Police attach notices to a door on Washington Road in Sharrow, on which they have secured a closure order as part of efforts to prevent drug dealers targeting vulnerable residents in a practice known as cuckooing
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Police said the orders were necessary to stop criminals ‘cuckooing’ vulnerable people, which is where they use those victims’ homes to deal drugs from.

Inspector Colette Fitzgibbons, from the Sheffield South West neighbourhood policing team said: “It is rare to get this many orders granted in close succession and this is testament to the hard work of the Sharrow team who are tackling issues raised by local people.

“They are working with the Sheffield Safer Neighbourhood Service in continually gathering evidence to secure these orders.

“The purpose of these orders is to prevent anyone other than the tenant – and authorised agencies like us – entering the property.

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“We are using them in this part of Sheffield to stop vulnerable people being targeted by criminals who are looking for properties to use to deal drugs from, this is known as cuckooing.

“Securing so many in one go should have a significant impact and disrupt criminality that is affecting people’s lives.”

HOW TO SPOT THE SIGNS OF CUCKOOINGVictims of cuckooing are often vulnerable people who are subjected to threats of violence, and it usually takes place in multi-occupancy or social housing properties.Signs that cuckooing could be happening at a property near you include:An increase in people entering and leavingAn increase in anti-social behaviourIncreased littering or rubbishDifferent cars and bikes outsideSigns of drug useCurtains or blinds closed at all timesNo healthcare or support workers visiting.