SIX people have been arrested in Weston-super-Mare after police received information that a vulnerable person's home may have been 'cuckooed.'

‘Cuckooing’ is the term used for when drug dealers use violence, exploitation and intimidation to take over the home of a vulnerable person in order to use it as a base for drug dealing.

It is often associated with ‘county lines’, where gangs and organised criminal networks from big cities use mobile phone lines or another form or ‘deal line’ to establish drugs supply chains in smaller towns.

On Tuesday (February 19) police executed drugs warrants at a property in Bristol Lower-Road and arrested two 18-year-old men, an 18-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man from Birmingham were arrested, along with a 28-year-old man and 36-year-old man from Weston, all on suspicion of Police also seized a large amount of cash, scales, phones and a quantity of suspected class A drugs.

All six people were taken to custody in Bridgwater on Tuesday and were released under investigation on Wednesday (February 20) while police carry out their investigations.

Police have given the four people from Birmingham have been given Community Protection Warnings (CPWs) which state that they cannot enter Weston-super-Mare, unless to attend court or pre-arranged appointments with the police.

And they have issued CPW's to the two local people arrested, requiring written permission from landlords to be at the address which they must present to a police officer on request.

Police say they have been working with partners to ensure that the person who lives at the property is safeguarded.

Lee Kerslake, Neighbourhood Sergeant for Weston-super-Mare, said: “We all know drugs have a negative impact on our communities, with anti-social behaviour and other crimes such as theft and burglary committed by users looking to fund their habits.

“But what we are seeing with county lines, is the targeting of young people and vulnerable adults by ruthless drug dealers who don’t care who they exploit or hurt. The challenge of dismantling these Lines is a very real and complex one, not just for law enforcement, but for safeguarding, health and educational professionals as well.”

You can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their Anonymous Online Form.

No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will not go to court or have to speak to police when contacting Crimestoppers.