Police need your help to weed out cannabis factories

Police in Dumfries and Galloway are urging local communities to be on the look out for properties that could be housing an illegal cannabis cultivation and to report any suspicious activity to police through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Local people are being asked to use their natural senses to look out for the following signs, which may indicate the presence of a cannabis cultivation:

* Blacked out windows, occasionally with condensation on them, or curtains or blinds are permanently closed;

* Premises appear unoccupied most of the time, but people often of South-East Asian appearance may be seen visiting late at night or into the early hours;

* Visitors to the premises may be seen bringing in building supplies and/or gardening equipment, which may be carried in boxes or suitcases;

* A low level hum or a loud buzzing sound caused by fans or extraction systems;

* A strong, sweet distinctive smell;

* Unusual levels of heat coming through walls and floors, which may be more noticeable in flats.

People may not notice all of these signs together, but are urged to report anything that appears out of the ordinary or suspicious.

The request comes as new figures show that Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary has detected 3 major cannabis cultivations and seized over 4000cannabis plants worth approximately £1,182,300 across the force area since the national crackdown on this serious organised crime was launched in 2006.

Earlier this week a campaign covering Scotland to tackle cannabis cultivations was launched by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) and Crimestoppers to highlight the tell-tale signs of cannabis cultivations.

A two-week radio campaign is currently running on WEST SOUND and adverts will be appearing on bus sides in and around Dumfries from Monday 6 September for two weeks.

Cultivations have been detected by all eight forces across Scotland in both rural and urban settings and in a variety of properties, including flats, houses, farm buildings and industrial premises.

Detective Inspector Gary Coupland said: “Cannabis cultivations represent a very serious threat to our communities, where cannabis remains to be the most widely misused controlled drug in Scotland.

Those responsible for these highly dangerous cultivations are involved in serious organised crime and they are concerned only about maximising their profits. They don’t care if your home goes up in smoke as a result of the huge fire risk that these cultivations represent, or the impact on communities as a result of drug misuse.

Local communities have a crucial role in helping to beat these criminals by looking out for the signs. I would urge everyone to be extra vigilant and to report anything they think is suspicious.”

Christopher Lyons, chair of Crimestoppers regional board said: “Crimestoppers plays a vital role in the fight against crime and we have a long history of working with communities to make them safer and help solve crimes.

The public should be assured that when they call Crimestoppers to report suspicious activity, their anonymity is guaranteed – in 22 years’ of operating as an independent charity we’ve never broken that promise. We do not take your name, we do not trace your call and we do not tape calls – all we need is what you know.

Call Crimestoppers now on 0800 555 111 or give information anonymously online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.”