Police issue plea to landlords over cannabis farm fires

A SENIOR police officer has urged landlords to do more to prevent fires linked to cannabis being grown in houses.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Broadbent said 10 per cent of police cannabis farm seizures followed a fire at a rented property.

"Those involved tap into the street lights or use electricity lawfully but it's a rented property and the landlord will know that a large amount of electricity is being used.

"I would urge landlords to let us know if they have suspicions."

Kevin Poxon, of the arson task force at Notts Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Cannabis growing is a very dangerous practice that puts lives in serious danger.

"We often find that electrical supplies have been interrupted which makes it particularly dangerous to firefighters and other emergency services at the scene.

"In addition, fires resulting from cannabis growth often affect the lofts of houses which mean they can easily spread to adjoining properties.

"The Crown Prosecution Service is pushing for severe charges for this type of crime, including arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered which can result in a custodial sentence."

The latest force figures show there were 425 cannabis growing operations discovered by Notts Police between January 1 and November 30 this year. The total in 2009 was 404.

The Post reported earlier this month how Crimestoppers had seen an increase in calls from Notts residents in the last year reporting suspected cannabis farms in their street.

Mr Broadbent said: "There have been nationally and locally some really good investigations tracking down the money and organisations behind the cannabis grows.

"Over the last 12 months to two years there has been a fall in overseas nationals being involved in cannabis production but an increase in local people.

"I think one of the reasons why more local people are involved in it is that they have seen the operations run by people coming in from overseas."

Mr Broadbent said cannabis production was an "expensive hobby" which required costly equipment.

He warned criminals that the use of a thermal imaging camera on the force helicopter made it easy to locate farms.

"The sophistication of cannabis production has increased in the last ten years. There's also a much stronger strain of cannabis than before."

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