The UK Government is set to introduce new legislation that will explicitly outlaw child criminal exploitation (CCE) and the practice of “cuckooing.” These measures will be part of the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill, which is due to be introduced to Parliament next week.
The Bill will also grant courts the power to impose prevention orders on individuals suspected of exploiting children for criminal purposes. These new laws aim to strengthen protections for vulnerable individuals and ensure that those responsible for such crimes face severe penalties.
What is cuckooing?
Cuckooing is a form of criminal exploitation in which a vulnerable person’s home is taken over without their consent for illegal activities, such as drug dealing or human trafficking. Often, perpetrators use coercion, threats, or violence to maintain control over the property.
At present, prosecutors dealing with cuckooing cases must rely on existing laws covering offences such as assault, harassment, and modern slavery. However, these laws do not always account for the full range of exploitative behaviours involved in cuckooing. The new legislation will close this gap by introducing a specific criminal offence for cuckooing, carrying a maximum prison sentence of five years.
Tackling child criminal exploitation
Child criminal exploitation involves adults grooming and manipulating children into committing crimes. This often includes county lines drug trafficking, where young people are forced to transport and sell drugs across different areas. Other forms of exploitation include organised theft, robbery, and forced labour.
According to the Home Office, around 14,500 children were identified as being at risk of CCE in 2023-24. However, experts warn that the real figure is likely to be much higher, as many cases go unreported.
The new offence will make it clear that grooming children for criminal activity is a serious crime, carrying a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. In addition, courts will have the power to issue CCE prevention orders, which will restrict individuals who are believed to be at risk of exploiting children.
Anyone who breaches a CCE prevention order will also face criminal charges, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Government’s commitment to protecting victims
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the exploitation of vulnerable people and children as “sickening” and emphasised the importance of eradicating these crimes.
“We are introducing these two offences to properly punish those who prey on vulnerable individuals, ensure victims are protected, and prevent these often hidden crimes from happening in the first place,” she said.
“These steps are vital in our efforts to stop the grooming and exploitation of children into criminal gangs, deliver on our pledge to halve knife crime in the next decade, and work towards our overall mission to make our streets safer.”
Children’s commissioner welcomes new protections
The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, has welcomed the proposed legislation, stating that it will provide much-needed clarity on the status of exploited children as victims, not criminals.
“Many children targeted by adult criminals face punishment instead of support. Like too many child victims, they are often ignored and overlooked,” she said.
“Their voices and experiences must be listened to if we are to create a child-centric justice system that puts safeguarding at its heart.
“Introducing this new offence and new prevention orders will help create the clarity that exploited children are victims. I hope this will enable professionals to intervene far earlier and provide the support these children desperately need.”
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Dame Rachel also highlighted the importance of a new initiative to assign a unique identifying number for every child, which would help services identify and support at-risk children more effectively.
New offence to outlaw spiking
Alongside the measures on child criminal exploitation and cuckooing, the Crime and Policing Bill will also include a new offence to explicitly outlaw spiking.
Under the proposed law, anyone convicted of drugging or attempting to drug another person without their consent will face a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
This move follows a sharp rise in reported cases of spiking, particularly involving young women in bars and nightclubs. Campaigners have been calling for tougher laws to deter offenders and improve protections for victims.
Conclusion
The Crime and Policing Bill marks a significant step in tackling hidden forms of exploitation that have devastated the lives of vulnerable individuals across the UK. By explicitly criminalising child exploitation and cuckooing, the government aims to ensure that perpetrators face justice, while victims receive the protection and support they need.
With additional measures targeting spiking and violent crime, the Bill represents a wider commitment to making communities safer and cracking down on those who exploit others for criminal gain. The legislation will now be debated in Parliament, where further details and potential amendments will be discussed in the coming weeks.
