A LOCAL police chief has appealed for information on 'cuckooing' gangs that may be operating in Inverclyde.

Cuckooing is the name given to the practice by criminals of taking over a vulnerable person's home and using the property to deal, store or grow drugs.

There have been a few cases this year in the Inverclyde area, and police say they are not complacent.

Now area commander Chief Inspector David Docherty is urging the local community to help flush out any cuckooing gangs and protect those in danger.

(Image: Newsquest) He said: “We work with partners to identify and protect vulnerable people who are being exploited by criminals linked to drugs.

"This form of criminality is known as 'cuckooing' and involves criminals taking over the home of the vulnerable person to use as a base for their activities and allow them to evade the attention of Police.

“Information about cuckooing usually comes from the public or partner agencies.

"Anyone with information related to cuckooing is encouraged to contact the police immediately.”

Police are hoping that the public can be their eyes and ears in identifying cuckooing operations as the gangs usually operate in residential areas.

The homes of victims can also be used for sex workers to meet clients, or to store guns or large sums of dirty money.

In the case of sex workers the women are often being trafficked by the gangs and are here illegally.

Intimidation and violence is used to coerce victims into handing over control of their houses or flats which are often turned into cannabis farms.

Those most at risk are people living on their own, who may also owe drug dealers money.

Victims as young as 14 and as old as 77 have been reported in Scotland.

The children are normally used a drugs mules to transport heroin, cocaine, and other illegal substances.

Local police recently hosted a workshop in Greenock to highlight the warning signs of cuckooing.

The event was attended by members of local housing associations and Inverclyde Council staff.

Those who took part had the chance to share their own experiences, as well as discussing best practice within their respective services.

Earlier this year Police Scotland revealed how 55 gangs, many of them from England, are operating cuckooing operations north of the border - more than double the number in 2020.

A crackdown in October led to arrests for attempted murder, possession of a firearm and supplying drugs.

More than 370 addresses across Scotland were raided and 17 people taken to safety.