Cops crackdown on cannabis factories

September 25, 2006

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A NATIONAL police crackdown on illegal cannabis factories was launched today.

The operation involves close to 20 police forces in England and Wales and is expected to last for two weeks.

Cannabis factories will be closed down by police and the criminal networks who run them disrupted and dismantled.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) is expected to announce further details of the crackdown later this morning.

Alan Gibson, Acpo's lead on cannabis cultivation, said: "Cannabis cultivation is an increasing problem which must be nipped in the bud.

"This operation will see police closing cannabis factories across the country, arresting those concerned and using the Proceeds of Crime Act to attack the criminal profits being made.

"Cannabis cultivation is seen by criminals as a low risk, high profit industry, but this operation will send out a clear message that cannabis production is a serious offence and that offenders will be brought to justice.

'Serious crime'

"Not only is the money from cannabis cultivation ploughed back into serious crime, but the bypassing of the electricity needed to run the factories causes risk of fire and electrocution and they have already caused several devastating fires."

As part of the operation, police are expected to ask the public to look out for telltale signs of cannabis factories being run from properties in their neighbourhood.

These include the windows of a property being permanently covered, gardening equipment left outside or a pungent smell emanating from inside.

Earlier this year, police in London began using thermal imaging cameras to reveal the locations of secret cannabis factories.

The hand-held devices detect the extreme heat caused by the lighting systems used in the intensive rearing of marijuana plants.

Properties where cannabis is being grown will release ten times the amount of heat of an ordinary family home.

Each is capable of producing hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of cannabis a year.

IS a crackdown on cannabis growers an efficient use of police time? Have your say.

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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

ali, Manchester (25/09/2006 at 10:41)

FREE THE WEED, haven't the police got better things to be doing like catching the pedophile, murderers and rapists that are roaming our streets, or getting rid of the illegal immigrants that i am sick to death of paying for,

Liam, manchester (25/09/2006 at 11:59)

I think its a waste of time. Theres nothing wrong with cannabis it just makes you chilled out. Alcohol is a lot worse than cannabis because more people will fight when they are drunk. More people die from alcohol and cigarettes every year than people die from cannabis.

StegaSuS, Manchester (25/09/2006 at 12:06)

If the Gov did its homework it would learn that the cannabis i smoke is less harmful than the Jack Daniels i drink on lads night. When was the last time you saw two potheads fight because they've had too many joints on a friday night. FREE THE WEED

jenny, nelson (25/09/2006 at 12:40)

The police would be better off serving the general public by eliminating anti-social behavour and users of crack and heroin..where i live crime is high and commited by people who are!!!
If more people smoked the weed we have less crime cos they couldnt be bothered to commit it!!

Sam, Manchester (25/09/2006 at 13:00)

Here here Ali! Now I'm off for toot while I still can.

David C, City Centre (25/09/2006 at 13:03)

maybe they would be better off having a crackdown on the crack factories

Andy, Wythenshawe (25/09/2006 at 13:29)

Here they are, Pot head criminals of Manchester unite. Its well documented about the damage to health, both mental and physical. Its also well documented about the criminal involvement , ive seen pot head kids on a rampage of criminality ... and ONCE again potheads trying to justify their sad addiction by saying its not as bad as booze .. you people are a joke, really sad and pathetic.

StegaSuS, Manchester (25/09/2006 at 14:10)

Andy, Wythenshawe your narrow-mindedness shocks me

StegaSuS, Manchester (25/09/2006 at 14:13)

Narrow-mindedness is defined as lacking tolerance or not having the mental faculty to see beyond the superficial and recognize the underlying truth.

Tony, manchester (25/09/2006 at 14:32)

Come on is there better ways to use police time ?

V, Stretford (25/09/2006 at 15:34)

Andy, Wythenshawe.. think you need a reefer yourself. Have you heard yourself?

Andy, Wythenshawe (25/09/2006 at 16:50)

Alcoholics live in the same denial, i know the facts, so do all the health and criminal experts around the world .. thats why NOWHERE in the world is it legal.
Even Holland is reversing its leberal attitude. Those that try and defend it are reliant on a drug crutch, they are pathetic, a sad joke.

StegaSuS, Manchester (25/09/2006 at 17:30)

Andy, wythenshawe
In the state of California in the good old US of A it is LEGAL to use cannabis for medical purposes i.e pain relief for MS sufferers so check the facts properly before you start talking about things you know nothing about.

Andy, Wythenshawe (25/09/2006 at 17:44)

MEDICAL PURPOSE, ive got no objection to that, as long as its proved effective ( which is still under debate ), even though its ONE PLACE in the world, but i will make sure you are not telling porkies, everyone knows you cant trust potheads.

Andy, Wythenshawe (25/09/2006 at 17:49)

Well, ... its NOT legal in California , theres a surpirse.

" Whether or not to permit the use of marijuana for medical purposes is both a public policy issue and a contentious legal issue, especially in California. Under federal law (the Controlled Substances Act of 1970) marijuana use for any purpose is illegal. The federal law has not stopped a number of states from enacting medical marijuana legislation. California was one of the first. In 1996 California voters passed Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, legalizing marijuana for medical use. Proposition 215 permits seriously ill Californians to use marijuana, provided they first obtain a doctor's recommendation. Proposition 215 also gives doctors a legal defense against professional or legal sanctions for recommending marijuana use.

Proposition 215 put California law in direct conflict with federal law, and litigation ensued. The key case began in January 1998 when the U.S. government sued the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative (OCBC) in federal district court for violating the Controlled Substances Act "

And the debate goes on, and as far as i can tell ... the US governement wont allow ANY use of pot.

Skeptical, Chorlton (25/09/2006 at 17:53)

Use of medical marijuana is also legal in Canada, not only for MS but for a range of other medical conditions.

Jon, Stockport (25/09/2006 at 19:37)

A woman (married with kids) across the road from me started smoking weed, dealer started supplying e's next- Cocaine then gave a greater hit, then moved onto herion.

She's now lost her kids and husband, total smack-head, lost her life and her looks. All true.

richard walton, cumbria (25/09/2006 at 19:40)

No, it isn't. Anyone who uses cannabis doesn't do anything wrong, ie burgalry, theft, violence etc, because they are so chilled out!

Mark, Bury (25/09/2006 at 20:19)

Looks like a Nationwide message ...scare-mongering tactics...Make the growers/suppliers/dealers panic...Hence they would destroy the stash....NOT A CHANCE BLAIR !...Like Prescott 2 Jags....dealers,suppliers,growers like to survive off the ignorance of the masses...PUT THE MONEY BACK IN THE NHS AND THE COPS...

jay, nelson (25/09/2006 at 21:43)

i think theyve cracked down on it already in nelson cant get a weed for love nor money....THE SWINES!!!

Greenqueen, Prestwich (25/09/2006 at 21:48)

Where does all this "well documented" stuff that Andy talks of, come from? I suggest he backs up his claims with some substantial evidence before he hits the "submit" button :-)

Pete, salford (25/09/2006 at 22:18)

only reason the police are cracking down on weed instead of alcohol is the goverment cant tax you on weed so they see it as a bad thing, fags and booze they tax the a*** of you so they dont see them as bad

Dave, Manchester (26/09/2006 at 10:14)

Like it or not the sale of cannabis has become a major industry in the UK, with millions spent on it every year by UK citizens. It was once a time when we imported the majority of our pot (UK money into the hands of terrorists) as opposed to UK based growing (UK money staying in the UK and getting pumped back into the economy all beit by so called 'criminals')
Do the police really want us to go back to our old ways?? I'm sure the likes of Osama Bin Laden would be more than happy to help us out!

tim, swansea (26/09/2006 at 13:50)

this is a complete waste of time and resources, if you want to stop huge weed production its simple legalise the growing of up to 5 plants...no one would need to buy any, no need for dealers. overnight success

bobby, manchester (26/09/2006 at 14:43)

With the Police recording a "cannabis street warning" as a detected crime i am surprised they aren't encouraging it's cultivation ! It would allow an easy way to carry on manipulating the crime detection rate to meet government targets !!!!

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