Report cannabis cultivation

Keep your neighbourhood safe by preventing serious organised crime carried out by criminal gangs

Working with the police forces of ERSOU (Eastern Region Special Operations Unit), this initiative aims to identify premises secured through letting agents and subsequently used for criminal activity, particularly related to the commercial production of cannabis.

At Crimestoppers we feel passionately about tackling drug crime, and we're appealing for the public’s support in identifying properties that may be being used in this way so that we can work together to protect our community.

Through this campaign we hope to gain crucial information to limit the activity of drug cultivation, and the detrimental effects, misery and harm that illegal drugs bring.

Illegal drug activity not only affects our wider communities, but, in particular, those vulnerable individuals within society who are often forced, coerced or exploited into carrying out this illegal activity on the behalf of organised gangs.
     

What is cannabis cultivation?

‘Cannabis cultivation’ refers to the practice and process of producing cannabis flowers.

Cannabis farms are very dangerous places and pose a serious risk of fire. Often the electricity meter has been bypassed and overloaded electrical circuits run close to water-filled pipes. Plants grown upstairs in a building can also cause floorboards to rot, presenting the danger of collapse.

In addition, it is also important to consider that sometimes the people working in the ‘farms’ are victims of human trafficking and working against their will.



Signs to spot for a property being used to cultivate drugs:

• A powerful distinctive sweet, sickly aroma
• Frequent visitors throughout the day and night
• Blacked out windows
• Chinks of bright light throughout the night
• Birds gathering on the roof, particularly in cold weather
• In winter, snow melting unusually quickly on the roof
• High levels of condensation on windows
• Noise from fans
• Large amounts of rubbish, including compost bags
• Electricity meter being tampered with/altered and new cabling, sometimes leading to street lighting.

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