By Mike Edwards
I would not normally copy information from elsewhere for my own writings, but as this is very good and timely advice from the Police on the prevention of Cannabis Factories, I will make an exception and copy in full a circular I received from Thames Valley Police sent to me because of my position advising our franchised offices within Castle Estates:
Dear Landlord/Estate Agency,
Cannabis Cultivation
Commercial cannabis cultivation is a growing industry in the UK. In the past two years, Thames Valley Police has uncovered more than 300 cannabis factories, with an estimated yield of £4.4 million.
Cannabis factories range from small enterprises in a bedroom, to barns and industrial premises adapted for large-scale production. Because properties are often sub let from existing tenants, it can be difficult to trace those responsible.
The damage to property caused by this kind of activity can be substantial. Landlords face severe penalties for failing to report illegal drug production, and could be sentenced to a maximum of 14 years in prison.
Information for Landlords, giving advice on how to spot if drug production might be taking place at one of your properties and what to watch out for with regard to a new tenant is available on our force website by following the link below.
http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/crprev/crprev-home/crprev-home-canprod/crprev-home-canprod-adv.htm
Use this number, 08458 505505, to report a non-emergency crime or to give information to Thames Valley Police. You can contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111. Always call 999 in an emergency.
If I can be of any further assistance please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Kind Regards,
Wendy Walker, Community Information Manager, Force Intelligence Bureau, Thames Valley Police. Tel: 701 3967 (External 01865 293967) Mobile 07837 496532. Email: [email protected]
The area is of course not significant, but the advice is paramount.
Good advice
Any advice of this nature should of course be well received and what matters most is the ability to put steps in place to stop such a disaster happening to any Landlord and of course, when fully managed by an agent, who would carry out regular property visits, it should not! Only when Landlords leave a Tenant in the property without visiting between Tenancies do such opportunities arise and when you consider the possible actions taken against the Landlord, surely this is reason enough to ensure all properties are visited on a regular basis!
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