Women's Experiences of County Lines-Related Cuckooing in North Yorkshire

This chapter draws on empirical research into the experiences of women involved in county lines in North Yorkshire. Cuckooing, which is often understood as a form of county lines-related exploitation, is an issue of particular concern in this region. Women were cuckooed through romantic relationships and/or their dependence on drugs. Once county lines groups had taken over their homes, women described a climate of fear and coercion, and high levels of sexual exploitation, abuse, and physical violence. Their homes were often constructed as a source of vulnerability and a site of continued insecurity, rather than a place of safety when interacting with county lines operatives. Although cuckooing is an exploitative practice, some participants initially viewed being cuckooed as preferable to alternative methods of funding their drug dependence. Interactions between cuckooed women and support organisations were complex and plagued by significant barriers, with female victims often being perceived as to blame for their predicament. This chapter makes an empirical contribution to research on the impact of county lines cuckooing on female victims.