DRUG gangs are invading the homes of Swindon’s most vulnerable residents.

The terrifying trend is known as ‘cuckooing’ – and it’s a growing problem in Britain’s smaller towns and cities.

It sees young gang members from London, Birmingham and Manchester befriend vulnerable householders – before taking over their home as a base from which the gangs armed with knives can peddle their drugs.

Detective Inspector Paul Franklin is the man tasked by Wiltshire Police with stamping out the vile practice.

The cop of 26-years, who once pounded the streets of East London, said: “We're seeing gangs coming out to the market towns. They make their money there and either funnel the money back to the main gang or hang on to it.

“There’s a lot more violence in London, Birmingham and Manchester and a lot of the dealing areas are already stitched up.”

When they arrive in a town like Swindon the gangs need to find a place from which to deal.

The gangs mostly target those already dependent on drugs or alcohol, offering them free drugs as a sweetener. They might also find single parents, DI Franklin added: “Young mums with children, who they’ll meet through social apps.”

“Then they’ve got a base. They’ll either go and deal themselves or send out the householder.”

Often, the resident doesn’t realise they are being groomed by the gangs until it is too late. The gang-members might carry knives to dissuade the householder from going to the police.

“They’ll say: ‘that’s it now - we’ll stay as long as we want.’

“What perhaps started off as a good deal for the householder turns into being used and abused.”

Vulnerable Swindon addicts have already fallen victim to the terrifying practice.

In February, South London drug dealer Stephane Yaba was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after he repeatedly stabbed the Swindon drug addict whose house he had taken over.

A month later, jurors at Swindon Crown Court heard how three West London dealers sold tens of thousands of pounds worth of heroin and cocaine from drug users’ homes in Moredon and Penhill.

Cops are worried that cuckooing could lead to murder. Last October Paul Pass was stabbed in his Gloucester flat by the drug dealers who had taken over his home. “He bled to death,” DI Franklin said.

Now, Wiltshire Police are hoping that members of the public will help them identify ‘cuckooed’ houses – allowing officers to swoop in and jail the gang members making the addicts’ lives a misery.

DI Franklin said: “Let’s say you see the guy who lives down the end of the block and you see three or four others suddenly living there – and there’s lots of coming and going. That’s quite a good sign they’re being ‘cuckooed’.”

Police said that they wanted to support vulnerable people in danger of being targeted by the gangs, working with housing associations, councils and charity Turning Point to help those with substance abuse problems.

To report concerns about a house you think might be being used for drug dealing, contact Wiltshire Police on 101 or anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.