The war on drugs has found a new weapon in Greater Manchester – scratch and sniff cards.
Following on from the success of its first project last year, Crimestoppers have teamed up with Greater Manchester Police to launch the second phase of its campaign to tackle cannabis cultivation.
Hundreds of scratch and sniff cards will be delivered to the public that will omit the smell of cannabis when it is growing.
Crimestoppers and GMP hope the cards will help familiarise people with the smell of the potent plant so they can detect if any cannabis farms are nearby.
Drug hot-spots will be targeted by a total of 17 police forces throughout the UK, with Greater Manchester Police, Merseyside and Cumbria taking part in the North West.
Detective Superintendent Mark Smith from GMP said: “Organised criminals see cannabis cultivation as a low risk, high profit venture, and there is clear evidence that they use cannabis production as a way to fund a range of other criminal activities, such as violent crime and trafficking Class A drugs.
FUNDING CRIME: Cannabis cultivation often funds further criminal activities
“To produce the cannabis criminals often rent residential properties such as flats or suburban houses and as a result may bring violent crime into law-abiding communities.
“We are committed to working with Crimestoppers again this year to keep our communities safe and I would urge everyone to act as our eyes, ears – and noses – to sniff out these criminals and their activity.”
Shortly after the 2013 campaign launched last March, Crimestoppers received information about a large cannabis growing operation.
Police were able to shut down a commercial cannabis farm, seizing plants with a street value of more than £1million and arresting several men in connection with the offence.
In the month that followed the previous campaign, information passed to Crimestoppers relating to cannabis cultivation increased by 28%.
This led to a number of police raids on cannabis farms and numberous arrests.
CAUGHT GREEN HANDED: Police received surge of cannabis related reports after last campaign
Crimestoppers’ Northern Manager Dave Hunter said: “The Scratch and Sniff cards were well received last year, a fact that was supported by the increase in information we received in the weeks after the campaign launched.
“This is a crime that can lead to much more serious incidents which is why we feel it’s important to reinforce our appeal for information from the public.
“We’re not looking to target individual users, we’re looking at something much bigger here, something much more dangerous, and we are targeting serious and organised crime groups who are involved in this illicit trade.”
A number of organisations affected by cannabis cultivation are supporting the campaign, including property sector trade associations, energy companies, Neighbourhood Watch and the Chief Fire Officers Association.
Cannabis cultivation can cause huge damage to property and can result in loss of rent while properties are repaired.
Growing equipment and excessive energy supplies used to manufacture the drugs can also increase the chance of a fire.
Very often the large energy used to cultivate farms is stolen directly from the public too.
In July 2013, energy regulator OFGEM said a third of all costs relating to energy theft came as a result of cannabis cultivation – amounting to around £70million.
GREEN ROOM: £70million worth of energy was stolen last year
Tony McEntee, head of supplier liaison for Electricity North West, said: “This year’s campaign should act as a warning to those who have tampered with their electricity.
“We take meter tampering very seriously and electricity abstraction is a criminal offence and puts the safety of tenants, businesses and the general public at great risk.
“We will continue to crack down on energy theft as it is unacceptable that honest bill-paying residents across the North West are effectively paying for others to have free electricity.”
Crimestoppers is asking members of the public to pass on any information about cannabis farms anonymously by telephoning 0800 555 111 or via the Anonymous Online Form via www.crimestoppers-uk.org .
To find out more about the campaign visit Crimestoppers UK.
