Homes in Kirklees are to be sent “scratch and sniff” cards which smell like cannabis to help catch serious and organised crime rings involved in growing the drug.

West Yorkshire Police are supporting a national campaign by the charity Crimestoppers for a second year and are distributing 12,000 scratch and sniff kits in ‘hot spot’ areas across the force.

These areas have been identified through information collected by officers and previous cannabis-related crimes that have been committed there.

Cannabis scartch and sniff card by West Yorkshire Police
Cannabis scartch and sniff card by West Yorkshire Police

Force drugs co-ordinator Bryan Dent said: “We take a robust stance against cannabis cultivation, use, and dealing to ensure our county remains a safe place and that our residents feel safer.

“Organised criminal gangs are often behind the larger cannabis farms and cultivation. This will be a warning to them and to anyone else who grows and sells this plant that not only are the police looking out for them, but their neighbours may be as well.”

Click below to see a gallery of cannabis farms found in Huddersfield in recent years.

 

The packs contain the cards and information which will help people recognise the sickly sweet smell of cannabis and what to do and who to contact if they suspect that someone is growing the illegal plant near where they live.

Police warn the production of cannabis often goes hand-in-hand with other crimes ranging from electricity theft through to violence, firearms offences, human trafficking and modern slavery.

Landlords and letting agents also need to be aware of what’s going on in their own properties as cannabis farms can be a serious fire risk.

Crimestoppers Director of Operations Roger Critchell, said: “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.

“We are targeting serious and organised crime groups who are involved in this illicit trade.”

Crimestoppers are encouraging anyone who may have suspicions that cannabis is being grown near to where they live to contact them anonymously on 0800 555 111. More information can be found at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

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