Child exploitation and cuckooing to be criminal offences in new UK law |

Child criminal exploitation and “cuckooing” are set to be formally criminalised in the United Kingdom under new legislation that will be introduced to the country’s Parliament next week.

The Crime and Policing Bill will establish specific offences for both crimes and introduce measures such as restriction orders for individuals suspected of exploiting children for criminal activity.

Criminalising cuckooing and child exploitation:

Cuckooing refers to the practice where criminals take over the home of a vulnerable person to use it as a base for illegal activities, such as drug dealing. Currently, law enforcement relies on existing offences like assault, harassment, or modern slavery to prosecute these cases, but gaps in legal coverage remain.

The bill also introduces a child criminal exploitation (CCE) offence, targeting individuals who groom children for criminal activity, including county lines drug trafficking and organized robbery.

According to the Home Office, around 14,500 children were identified as being at risk of CCE in 2023-24, though officials believe the actual figure is much higher.

Under the proposed legislation:

• Cuckooing will carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
• Child criminal exploitation will carry a maximum sentence of 10 years.
• CCE prevention orders will allow courts to impose restrictions on individuals suspected of exploiting children.
• Violating these orders will be a separate offence, punishable by up to five years in prison.

Government and expert reactions:

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called such exploitation “sickening,” stating that the bill would protect victims and prevent hidden crimes before they occur.

“It is vital we do everything in our power to eradicate this from our streets,” she said.

Dame Rachel de Souza, the UK’s Children’s Commissioner, welcomed the legislation, stating it would provide “clarity that exploited children are victims.”

“Too often, children targeted by adult criminals face punishment instead of support,” she added. “Their voices must be heard if we are to create a justice system centered on safeguarding.”

Additional measures: Criminalising spiking:

The bill will also introduce a specific offence for spiking, the act of giving someone alcohol or narcotics without their consent. It will carry a prison term of up to 10 years.

While the previous Conservative government had proposed criminalising cuckooing in its Criminal Justice Bill, the measure stalled when Parliament was dissolved ahead of the snap general election. Labour’s proposed bill aims to push these long-awaited reforms forward.

The new legislation marks a significant step in strengthening protections for vulnerable individuals and cracking down on criminal networks that exploit children and at-risk adults.