On February 25, 2025, the Home Office introduced the Crime and Policing Bill, a wide-ranging bill that would create a number of new criminal offenses, including two that aim to protect vulnerable people and children from exploitation by criminals.
‘Cuckooing’
One proposed offense is called “cuckooing,” which occurs when an individual controls another person′s home for criminal purposes. The Home Office, the lead government agency on crime, stated this is ‶a highly exploitative practice,″ as the person whose home is controlled is typically a vulnerable person. Moreover, it frequently occurs alongside anti-social behavior and the exploitation of children.
The offense is named after the cuckoo bird, which lays its eggs in the nests of other birds. The unsuspecting birds tend to the cuckoos’ eggs until they hatch. The baby cuckoo birds then remove the host birds′ eggs and chicks from the nest, leaving the other birds to raise the cuckoos.
The new offense would occur when an individual exercises control over the dwelling of another person to enable the dwelling to be used in connection with the commission of an offense specified in the bill. (Crime and Policing Bill, clause 32.) The person whose dwelling is being used must not consent to the individual exercising control over it for criminal purposes. In England and Wales, the specified offenses include, but are not limited to:
- keeping a brothel;
- possessing firearms that are prohibited or lack the appropriate permissions and registrations;
- handling stolen goods;
- producing, supplying, or possessing controlled drugs;
- cultivating cannabis plants;
- possessing indecent images or photographs of children;
- committing sexual offenses;
- committing fraud;
- engaging in slavery or human trafficking; or
- participating in the activities of an organized crime group. (Sched. 5.)
Child Criminal Exploitation
A second proposed offense is child criminal exploitation, which would make it illegal for an adult to engage in ‶conduct towards or in respect of a child, with the intention of causing the child to engage in criminal conduct (at any time). ″ (Clause 17.) The Home Office said the offense is designed to protect children, and the government intends that it will help to increase prosecutions of individuals who use children for criminal activities, such as participating in organized robbery and carrying drugs. If enacted, the offense will be punishable with up to 10 years′ imprisonment. (Clause 17.)
The government’s landmark Crime and Policing Bill addresses several criminal offenses, including encouraging another person to inflict serious self-harm, possessing and supplying a SIM farm, and possessing and distributing information on generating child sexual abuse material.
Clare Feikert, Law Library of Congress
May 7, 2025
Read more Global Legal Monitor articles.
Read Law Library reports on the United Kingdom.