WELFARE checks have been carried out across a town following reports of 'cuckoo' addresses.

Cuckooing occurs when criminals target vulnerable individuals and use their addresses for illegal persons.

The victims usually live alone and offences are often drug-related.

A spokesman for Poole Neighbourhood Policing Team they aim to support victims and potential victims and they urged members of the public with concerns to get in touch.

Seven men from Bournemouth and Poole who appeared in the dock

"It is a tactic of drug dealers to 'cuckoo' addresses, much the same as the bird of the same name behaves in the wild.

"If you have information or intelligence relating to this or any other crime, we highly recommend passing information via crimestoppers-uk.org, especially if you do not feel comfortable contacting us directly.

"Whilst you may not always see an instant response from police, a large amount of work goes on behind the scenes. Crucial to this work is the community intelligence from which it is often generated."

Call police on 101 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.