New Law to Criminalize Child Exploitation and 'Cuckooing'

The Crime and Policing Bill introduces severe penalties for grooming children into criminal activity and taking over vulnerable people's homes for illegal purposes.

The upcoming Crime and Policing Bill will make child criminal exploitation (CCE) and 'cuckooing' distinct criminal offenses in the UK.
CCE offenders, who groom children into activities like county lines drug dealing, could face up to 10 years in prison under the new law.
'Cuckooing,' where criminals take over the homes of vulnerable individuals for illegal activities, will carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Courts will also be empowered to issue CCE prevention orders, restricting individuals suspected of exploiting children; violations of these orders could result in five-year sentences.
The legislation aims to protect child victims, shift accountability to perpetrators, and provide clarity that exploited children are victims of abuse, not criminals.