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Cannabis scratch and sniff cards to track down farms | Cannabis scratch and sniff cards to track down farms |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Marijuana-scented scratch cards are to be posted to thousands of households in a bid to detect illegal cannabis farms. | |
Crimestoppers, which runs the campaign, said the cards would help people to recognise the smell of cannabis and report suspected plantations to police. | Crimestoppers, which runs the campaign, said the cards would help people to recognise the smell of cannabis and report suspected plantations to police. |
The charity said there was a 15% rise in the number of cannabis farms found in homes between 2011 and 2012. | The charity said there was a 15% rise in the number of cannabis farms found in homes between 2011 and 2012. |
The West Yorkshire Police area had the largest number of cannabis plantations uncovered in the UK. | |
According to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), about 1,800 cannabis farms were found in the area by officers between 2010 and 2012. | According to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), about 1,800 cannabis farms were found in the area by officers between 2010 and 2012. |
South Yorkshire had the second highest number with 1,600 farms uncovered in the same period. | South Yorkshire had the second highest number with 1,600 farms uncovered in the same period. |
Other hotspots included London, where more than 1,200 farms were detected, Greater Manchester, which had 800 plantations uncovered and Humberside, where officers found nearly 300 cultivations. | Other hotspots included London, where more than 1,200 farms were detected, Greater Manchester, which had 800 plantations uncovered and Humberside, where officers found nearly 300 cultivations. |
'Crackdown on cannabis' | 'Crackdown on cannabis' |
Andy Bliss, from ACPO, said: "Many people don't realise that the empty, run-down house or flat on their street with people coming and going late at night may actually be a commercial cannabis farm. | Andy Bliss, from ACPO, said: "Many people don't realise that the empty, run-down house or flat on their street with people coming and going late at night may actually be a commercial cannabis farm. |
"It's not just the stereotype of the remote rural set or disused industrial estate unit. | "It's not just the stereotype of the remote rural set or disused industrial estate unit. |
"These farms are often run by organised criminals [and] they bring crime and anti-social behaviour into local communities causing real harm and leaving people feeling unsafe." | "These farms are often run by organised criminals [and] they bring crime and anti-social behaviour into local communities causing real harm and leaving people feeling unsafe." |
Crimestoppers said growers were moving way from commercial and industrial properties and using homes to cultivate the plants. | Crimestoppers said growers were moving way from commercial and industrial properties and using homes to cultivate the plants. |
The green and black cards, which are being distributed to 210,000 households, release a scent when scratched that replicates the smell of cannabis during its growing state. | |
The charity hopes the campaign would lead to a crackdown on the crime. | |
Roger Critchell, director of operations at Crimestoppers, said: "We are distributing scratch and sniff cards because not many people know how to recognise the signs of cannabis cultivation happening in their neighbourhood. | Roger Critchell, director of operations at Crimestoppers, said: "We are distributing scratch and sniff cards because not many people know how to recognise the signs of cannabis cultivation happening in their neighbourhood. |
"Many are also not familiar with the established links between this crime and serious organised crime." | "Many are also not familiar with the established links between this crime and serious organised crime." |
The initiative started three years ago in Holland, where 30,000 scratch cards were distributed to homes. | The initiative started three years ago in Holland, where 30,000 scratch cards were distributed to homes. |
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