Police are targeting London gangs operating in the homes of vulnerable people across Thanet and Canterbury.

A team of detectives based at Margate police station is identifying and prosecuting the organised criminals who ‘cuckoo’ the homes of others.

Operation Rebuke's aim is to disrupt and deter the gangs who are setting up shop in homes across the district.

DS Richard Allen said: "Cuckooing has been identified as a priority because of the vulnerability of the legitimate occupants, the potential increase in gang-related violence and the associated anti-social behaviour at the cuckooed address, which can have a really detrimental effect on communities.

"The gangs will identify vulnerable people. They might be addicted to alcohol, drug dependent, disabled or suffer mental health problems.

"A common way the gangs get their foot under the door is to initially offer 'free' drugs and suddenly the legitimate occupant will find themselves in debt to the dealers..." DS Richard Allen

"A common way the gangs get their foot under the door is to initially offer 'free' drugs and suddenly the legitimate occupant will find themselves in debt to the dealers.

"They are told that the only way they can write off that debt is to allow the gang to use their address.

"Before they know it the cuckooed people have these criminals in their home who they perceive to be stronger and more powerful than them.

"The gangs use intimidation, bullying, violence and drugs to maintain control. Left on their own they don't stand a chance."

Officers say 'cuckooing' is not a new phenomenon and the tactic is on the increase nationally as inner-city gangs look to spread their nets ever wider.

Mr Allen said: "Members of organised criminal gangs are ruthless people.

"Their main priority is making money and they will use whatever means necessary to achieve that, including violence and intimidation.

"Using cuckooed addresses makes sense for them.

"They are vulnerable dealing on the streets, both to the police and other gangs.

"But if they can operate out of someone's home they stand a chance of slipping under the radar."

Police say cuckooed addresses can potentially be used by London gangs for dealing crack cocaine and heroin and for storing stolen property, drugs, weapons or money.

A report published by the National Crime Agency last summer revealed gangs were using a model known as 'county lines' where they operate a phone number in an area outside their normal locality in order to sell drugs directly to users at street level.

In January, 18-year-old Tamisa Musonza from Woolwich, south east London, was sentenced to three years in a young offender institution for supplying heroin and crack cocaine.

Mr Allen said: "Musonza was arrested by officers carrying out a drugs warrant at a cuckooed address in Margate."

The team also issued their first closure order on a flat in Margate earlier this month following concerns raised by residents about drug activity and anti-social behaviour.

The order means it is an offence for anyone to enter the flat for three months.

Anyone who breaches the order could face a fine and up to 51 weeks in prison.

DC Adam Hinton, part of the Operation Rebuke team said: "We will continue to pursue orders on other properties if they are associated with ongoing incidents of anti-social behaviour or drug activity."

Gathering intelligence is key to building a picture around a cuckooed address and officers say this is where residents can help.

Mr Allen said: "Our message is, if you have concerns about an address that is already being cuckooed or about someone who could be at risk, please phone us.

"The legitimate occupants are victims but sometimes they are also offenders and we will deal with their criminal offending.

"Many of the gang members we come across are teenage boys and girls, which throws up another safeguarding issue."