30/04/2012

Average Of 21 Cannabis Farms Found Daily In UK Last Year

A new report by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) has revealed that an average of 21 cannabis factories were found every day in Britain last year.

Officers confiscated marijuana in the UK with a street value of £100 million, as the number of farms discovered increased to 7,865, more than doubling in four years.

The UK is at "significant risk" from criminal gangs who cultivate cannabis on a commercial scale, says the report.

It estimates that the number of recorded cannabis production offences in the period from April 2011 to March 2012 will rise to 16,464, up from 14,982 in 2010-11.

Commander Allan Gibson of the Metropolitan Police, Acpo's lead on cannabis cultivation, said: "Increasing numbers of organised crime groups are diverting into this area of criminality, but we are determined to continue to disrupt such networks and reduce the harm caused by drugs."

(H/GK)


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