The government has announced that landmark legislation will ban cuckooing, an activity that exploits vulnerable people.
Cuckooing is when the home of a vulnerable person is taken over by criminals to use it for illegal activities, such as drug dealing. The offence will carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
In 2021 Hampshire’s Blue Apple premiered a short animation film on hate crime called See No Evil, explaining cuckooing through drama and real police insight. It was created in collaboration with Cass Productions and features four of Blue Apple’s actors who all have learning disabilities.
The thought-provoking short film was developed with the Hampshire Police Crime Commissioner and Hampshire County Council.
It aims to raise awareness about hate crime, including disability hate crime and the exploitation of vulnerable people within the context of county lines drug trafficking.
Founded in 2005 by Jane and Tommy Jessop and based in Winchester, Blue Apple is an inspirational and ambitious theatrical company that supports learning disabled performers to develop and present high quality productions to the widest possible audiences – performing and touring theatre, dance and film within a variety of large and small scale venues around Hampshire and the southern regions, as well as nationally and internationally.
Through producing high quality theatre, singing, dance and film Blue Apple aims to challenge prejudice and transform the lives of people with a learning disability.
Blue Apple is committed to the development of integrated and progressive opportunities within the arts for people with learning disabilities, to raise the ceiling of expectation and advocate for the development of a more inclusive, accessible and equal society.
Regular performing arts sessions provide a safe space for learning disabled performers to express themselves creatively, learn skills and develop confidence.
By presenting performances to wide audiences, participants have a public platform where they can speak, sing, dance and interact and where they are heard and seen, receiving public recognition for their talents.
Watch See No Evil: vimeo.com/384838555/6bc580a3c4
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