Bodmin Resident Protected from Cuckooing with New Order

A vulnerable Bodmin resident has been safeguarded following concerns from the community about possible exploitation in their home.

A partial closure order was granted on Tuesday, 10th September, at an address in the town to protect the individual from being exploited. This order will remain in place for three months and restricts access to the property. Only the named tenant, police officers, social workers, and health professionals are permitted to enter or remain at the address.

What is Cuckooing?

The resident had reportedly been a victim of “cuckooing”, a criminal practice where offenders take over a person’s home and use the property for exploitation and personal gain.

Inspector Adam Stonehill explained that the closure order was a joint effort with local partners to protect the resident. “We take these offences very seriously and will always do what we can to protect vulnerable people from being a victim of crime,” Adam said. “Officers will be able to enforce consequences to those individuals that shouldn’t be there.”

The police and partner agencies will continue to provide safeguarding and wellbeing support to the resident to prevent further exploitation.

Community Vigilance is Key

Inspector Adam Stonehill emphasised the importance of community involvement in preventing such crimes. He encouraged residents to report any unusual activities that may indicate cuckooing, such as an increase in the number of people entering a property or unfamiliar vehicles outside at odd times.

“These closure orders are only made possible through the support of local residents and partner agencies raising their concerns to police,” Adam added.

For more information about cuckooing and exploitation, visit the Devon & Cornwall Police website.

How to Report Concerns

If you have concerns about a vulnerable person or notice suspicious activity in your neighbourhood, you can report it on the Devon & Cornwall Police website or call 101. If a crime is taking place, call 999 immediately. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

For those affected by crime, support services and information are available at Victim Care. You can also contact Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111 or the Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.

With the continued support of the community, the police hope to protect vulnerable individuals from becoming victims of exploitation.