'Cannabis' cards will help police sniff out criminals
Would you be able to
sniff out a cannabis farm?
by James Snaith
Householders are being urged to help sniff out crime...
literally!
New scratch and sniff cards are being sent out to 23,000 homes
across Kent, to help families weed out rogue neighbours.
The cards give off a smell similar to cannabis, so e
agle-eyed tenants and homeowners can grass in dodgy
criminals who break the law to run cannabis farms.
The Crimestoppers cards will be sent to homes alongside A5
information leaflets (pictured right) to educate people on what
signs to look out for.
Steve Mellers, the area manager for Kent Crimestoppers, said the
public can help cut crime by sticking their nose in.
He said: “I’m not sure the public are aware of what to look out
for. It may well be that there is one just down the road from you
but you don’t know it.
“The leaflet will tell you the signs to look out for, such as
the strong sickly smell, the fact the house might have its windows
blocked out all hours of the day or that lots of cables are running
into the house.”
Nearly 100 factories were uncovered in Kent between
2010/12, contributing to a 15% increase across the UK.
The figure isn’t something that surprises Mr Mellers.
He said: “Over the last few years cannabis farms in homes have
become quite lucrative and criminal gangs find it an easy way to
make money.
“Just last week a lorry was stopped at the Port of Dover
containing £5m of cannabis resin that could have been grown just
down the street.”
A close-up of a cannabis
plant
He added: “A similar campaign has been run in Holland and the
public response was overwhelming.
"A lot of information came in and these farms are tied in
with organised crime.”
Crimestoppers is an independent charity that helps the police
solve crimes to make communities safer. Anyone with information can
call anonymously on 0800 555 111
18/03/13
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