Man arrested and two cannabis farms seized in St Helens

Officers have arrested a man and seized two cannabis farms from addresses in St Helens this week.

On Monday (19 April), officers from St Helens Targeted Team were called to an address in Deerfield Close, where they located around 40 cannabis plants and growing equipment across three rooms. Following enquiries, a 36-year-old man from Trafford was arrested on suspicion of cannabis cultivation. He has since been released under investigation as enquiries continue.

On Tuesday (20 April), officers executed a warrant at an address in Shaw Street, where they seized a cannabis farm of 91 plants along with growing equipment. The property was made safe and an investigation is underway.

St Helens Targeted Inspector, Rob Budden said : "Criminals involved in the setting up of cannabis farms don't care about the dangers they pose to neighbouring properties or the impact their illicit trade has on decent members of the public. 

“The seizure of two cannabis farms in the St Helens area this week has prevented these drugs from reaching our communities, and has thankfully also prevented potential risks to local residents including fire, flooding and serious violence. 

“We carry out proactive work each and every day to target criminals involved in the production and supply of drugs across Merseyside, as well as acting on information given to us by the public, which is vital when it comes to bringing offenders to justice.

“I would encourage our communities to continue to come forward and report it if you have information on serious and organised crime, or suspect someone is involved in the production and supply of drugs. No-one should have to put up with having a cannabis farm next door and the associated violence and gun crime it often brings.”

Some of the signs that cannabis is being grown are:
 
• Strange smells and sounds
• Frequent and varied visitors to a property, often at unusual times
• Gardening equipment being taken into a property, such as plant pots, fertiliser, fans and industrial lighting
• Windows are sealed and covered or the curtains are permanently closed
• Heat from an adjoining property
• Birds gathering on a roof in cold weather
• Individually these activities may seem commonplace, however, together may indicate something more suspicious

If you have any information about suspected drug production in your area, please contact @MerPolCC, 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.