Teenager arrested over suspected ‘cuckooing’ on Smelterwood Court, Richmond, Sheffield
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Officers from South Yorkshire Police’s South East neighbourhood policing team have revealed they carried out the investigation in April because of concerns over an address on Smelterwood Court, in Richmond.
As a result, they have arrested a teenager suspected of drugs offences and are considering a house closure order.
The man whose house was affected is receiving support.
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Hide AdThe team wrote in their latest newsletter: “Cuckooing is the process of people taking over a person’s home to exploit them.
"An 18-year-old man appeared to have taken advantage of a man and his address to use it to store and deal drugs.
Possession with intent to supply drugs suspicions
“The 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply.
“He has been bailed as we continue our investigation.
“The man at the property has been safeguarded and is now living elsewhere.
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Hide Ad“We will be considering whether a closure order is appropriate to prevent any further criminal activity and exploitation.”
Insp Alison Bywater, the inspector in charge of the neighbourhood team, said her officers would continue to patrol the south east of the city throughout May, tackling the priorities residents had told her mattered to them. They are drug use, drugs supply, off road motorbikes, antisocial behaviour, knife crime, and organised crime groups.
She said they would also look at taking part in a national scheme aiming to highlight the dangers of knife crime, Operation Sceptre.