Mate Crime

CAAGe takes a look at ‘Mate Crime’, the deliberate grooming of people by people who are supposed to be friends or family meant to have our best interests at heart.

What do ‘Mate Crime’ Groomers want?

Only the person grooming can know exactly what motivates them.

For exanple, grooming for money could be simply greed, but could also be greed, entitlement, desperation.

Among the most common reasons are:

Who gets Targetted by ‘Mate Crime’ Groomers?

Authorities believe that there are groups of people who are particularly vulnerable:

Our data, however, shows that anyone can be groomed.

Often ‘officially’ vulnerable people have people around them offering care and/or support.

Mate Crime: Physical Abuse or Control

The 'Viaduct Gang'

Steven Hoskin, a vulnerable man from St Austell, Cornwall, was humiliated and abused for hours by a gang who had befriended him.
They made uncorroborated claims that Steven was a paedophile and used that to spread hate and distrust of an already lonely and vulnerable man, somewhat estranged from his family.
The details are horrendous and were described by police as “unparalleled cruelty and evil”.
We’ve linked to a BBC report here to point at the perpetrators rather than at Steven.
Reports and case notes on the web are extremely tough reading and very triggering.
It’s an extreme cases of mate crime for abuse.

BBC article
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Mate Crime: Cuckooing

"Mandy Davis"

Mandy did a good turn helping a friend when they were having a hard time.
The consequent abuse lead to mental health issues and the loss of a serious amount of money.
This Guardian article focusses on her vulnerability (she wa doing someone a good turn), but is a good example of how people form friendships to get into someone’s home, and then ‘cuckoo’ them out of the nest, orat very least make them uncomfortable.

Mate crime: how friendship is being used as a weapon to steal and control
Proposed Legislation: Cuckooing for crime

Government is creating a new bespoke criminal offence to tackle a specific form of ‘cuckooing’ (home takeover) - when criminals take control of the home of another person specifically to use it for criminal activity.

gov.uk Proposed Legislation
Drugs, Alcohol and cuckooing

The number of homes across England being shut down because of drug dealing or substance use on site is ever on the increase.
Behind it lies the heartbreak of cuckooing.
The most common form of cuckooing is apparently where drug dealers take control of the victim’s home and use the premises to store, prepare or distribute drugs.

CPD article on cuckooing

ARC England (Association for Real Change) provides information, influences policy and parctise in health and social care for the benefit of people with learning disabilities and other disabilities including autism, mental health problems, sensory and physical disabilities.
This page has useful materials and contact details for the organisation: Safety net resources
Autism Together offers advice, guidance, support and signposting to resources for people with autism and their families.
Advice and Support page
The Citizens Advice Bureau has information: Your right not to be tortured or treated in an inhumane way
Mencap advice : Mate and Hate Crime