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POLICE LAUNCH
MONTH OF ACTION AGAINST CANNABIS FARM GANGS
A month of Police activity
tackling the organised gangs who operate cannabis farms in
Merseyside was launched this week with more than 1000 plants worth
up to a million pounds seized.
The crackdown is being led by the force's Matrix Serious Organised
Crime (MSOC) unit and is taking place in every corner of the force
area; Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley.
Neighbourhood officers and the specialist cannabis dismantling team
(CDT) already discover several cannabis farms every day in
Merseyside.
But the month of action aims to build on that success and send a
clear message to the organised crime groups behind the farms that
the Police will not tolerate the production and sale of cannabis on
the streets of Merseyside.
Superintendent David Charnock, from MSOC, who is leading the
operation, said:- "We are already having great successes in
uncovering cannabis farms every day as more and more people become
wise to the tell-tale signs that there is one in their community.
The public have been a massive help in telling us what they know and
in return we have vowed to act on that information and take action
against the criminals who are profiting from these farms. Cannabis
is not a harmless drug. It is hugely profitable to grow and sell it
and we know that organised crime groups set up and control these
factories, often in the very heart of local communities. The knock
on effects can be devastating for decent, law abiding people who
live there, as rival criminals fighting for control of these farms
bring violence and initimidation to the streets. That is why we are
going after these criminals in a concerted crackdown this month; to
severely disrupt and damage their criminal activities and show the
public that it is in everyone's interests to work together to tackle
this problem."
During the 1st day of the operation, Police executed Misuse of Drugs
Act warrants across the county and seized around 1000 plants and
arrested 18 people.
In Sefton, a 500 plant farm was uncovered at a house in Coronation
Road in Crosby and a 22 year old man arrested. A smaller cannabis
factory containing several dozen plants was also dismantled in
Seaforth and a 52 year old man arrested. Bags of cannabis and white
powder were also found.
In North Liverpool, 10 people were arrested in total
and 162 cannabis plants found in 7 farms, including 1 in a loft and
bedroom in a house in Stoneycroft. A large container full of
harvested cannabis was also discovered and the occupant arrested.
Further along Queens Drive, in West Derby, evidence of a recently
cultivated cannabis farm was uncovered. Hydroponic growing equipment
was seized along with thousands of pounds of cash. A woman was
arrested at the property on suspicion of possession with intent to
supply and money laundering.
And on the edge of the City Centre in Vauxhall,
officers from MSOC's uniformed services wing searched an industrial
unit on Naylor Street and found more than 200 plants being grown in
a hidden cellar. A large number of car parts thought to belong to a
stolen Mercedes car were also recovered.
Meanwhile, in south Liverpool officers from Admiral Street Police
station executed drugs warrants at properties in Wavertree, Toxteth
and Allerton and discovered 4 cannabis farms. In Briardale Road, L18
2 separate houses were searched and officers found 178 plants in 3
bedrooms and the loft of one house and 47 plants in another. A
quantity of suspected Class A drugs were also found at the smaller
farm and a 24 year old man arrested, while at the larger one,
tablets believed to be Ecstasy and a stun gun were seized. Elsewhere
in Tillotson Close, L8, 3 men were arrested after cannabis plants
and powder believed to be heroin were found.
Drugs warrants were also being carried out in Knowsley, St Helens
and Wirral yesterday and the Forcewide activity will continue
throughout the month. The
month of action also includes an awareness raising campaign to
educate people about the dangers of cannabis and also how people can
help put a stop to the cannabis farms.
School liaison officers will be giving
presentations to secondary school pupils throughout the county about
the consequences of smoking or possessing cannabis, including the
damage to their health, the paranoia it can cause and the impact
getting arrested can have on going on holiday to countries like
America and on getting a job.
Neighbourhood officers will also be setting up a replica cannabis
factory in empty units in shopping areas to show people going about
their daily business what potential dangers and hazards exist inside
a farm.
 Supt
Charnock added:- "Many of these cannabis factories are
death traps and we are increasingly finding more in residential
areas, rght next to where other people live. Often the electricity
supply has been tampered with and this, coupled with the heat lamps
and water system, increases the risk of a fire breaking out inside.
Given that these farms are often tucked away inside ordinary
terraced and semi detached houses, this is jeopardising people's
safety. I would urge people to keep an eye out for certain tell tale
signs that cannabis may be grown where they live. Fresh cannabis has
a more pungent, sickly smell compared to when it is smoked. Houses
will often have the windows sealed with newspapers and foil to keep
the heat in and prevent people looking in. People may sudedently
visit at strange hours of the night to bring growing equipment in or
to remove the drugs, yet in between it may seem like no one lives
there. If you see any of these warning signs and suspect there is a
cannabis farm operating near you, it is in your interests to tell
the Police, anonymously if you feel more comfortable, and we will
act on it."
Merseyside Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy said:- "The Force
is uncovering and dismantling cannabis farms on a daily basis, but
this month of action reaffirms and emphasises their commitment to
tackling the gangs that are running these drug factories and
removing them from our neighbourhoods. The production of this drug
is just one element of the serious and organised crime that brings
misery to the streets of Merseyside. Young people are manipulated
and drawn into getting involved in criminal activity, while the
quality of life of law abiding residents is disturbed and their
lives put in danger due to the hazardous nature of these farms. They
are magnets for violence and are used to fund criminal gangs. I
strongly support the Chief Constable in his commitment to
identifying, targeting and disrupting those involved in such crime
and ensuring Merseyside remains a hostile environment for anyone
engaged in such activity."
For more information visit:-
cannabis-side-effects.co.uk.
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Jewellers
thanked for support of the James Bulger Memorial Fund
THE mum of murdered toddler
James Bulger has thanked St Helens jewellers who are backing her
campaign to help other young victims of crime. Denise Fergus
and her husband Stuart called in to visit Eddie Hoffman and Sharon
Jones Hoffman at Church Square Shopping Centre, to see how fund
raising is going for The James Bulger Memorial Trust. The
couple from Kirkby are regular visitors to Eddie and Sharon's
jewellery shop Jones & Hoffman, which is among the 1st to host a
collection point and sell badges for the fund. The cash will
go towards a 6 berth static holiday home at Ribby Hall near
Blackpool, donated by a well wisher, which Denise and Stuart have
revamped. Now called James Bulger House, it will provide free
holidays for families who have children needing a morale boost or
deserving a reward.
Among those who will benefit are those who have
suffered a bereavement, fallen victim to crimes of violence, serious
bullying or hate crime. Breaks will also be offered to
youngsters who help care for a parent or a sibling, or who have made
positive contributions to society or demonstrated exemplary good
behaviour in their community.
"Eddie has been very supportive and was among the donors for a
raffle at a fund raising black tie dinner in November for the fund.
Then he was very generous and gave us a Rotary watch; together with
the other prizes we raised £10,000. The money we are raising with
the badges will go towards improving the caravan and providing
holidays for other young victims of crime. Each year, the target is
£6,000, which is the amount needed to maintain James Bulger House
and for it to be sited at Ribby Hall, as we don't charge the
families we help. We are trying to find the funds to help children
and families who are wheelchair bound as the caravan we have is too
small to suit wheelchairs. We are looking at purchasing a lodge at
Ribby Hall which can accommodate wheelchairs; this is in the region
of £190,000. I promised James after he was killed that I would
always fight for justice and do my best to keep his memory alive. He
was such a wonderful, loving and cheerful little boy and not a day
goes by that I don't think of him and I cherish the memories of his
short happy life. This month is 21 years since James was taken from
me; he should have been in his prime of his life, perhaps just
finishing university and starting his career and looking forward to
may be one day having a family of his own. I like to think that,
like my other 3 sons, he would have been a good and kind boy, and
become part of the community in which we live." said Denise,
who continues to receive messages of sympathy and support from
people all over the world.
Eddie said:- "I have got to know Denise and
Stuart over the years, when they've called in the shop. I was
delighted to offer to help with the fund raising and already the
collection box is filling up. This is a tragedy that so many of us
will never forget. My son Ryan, who is 20, works with me in our shop
in Church Square Shopping Centre; I know that Denise would give
anything to be able to have James with her. I can only admire her
determination to use her own loss for the good of others, especially
young victims of crime, and to highlight the unsung young heroes in
our communities."
Church Square Shopping Centre Manager Steven Brogan also sent a
message of support to the fund raising campaign. "I am sure
that all of our customers will have a special place in their hearts
for James, and for what his family have gone through across the
years. I would urge everybody to donate towards this worthwhile fund
and to help other youngsters."
2 year old James was abducted from a shopping centre and murdered on
a railway line in Liverpool, by Robert Thompson and Jon Venables,
then aged 10, on 12 February 1993.
Donations can be made at Jones and Hoffman or online at:-
forjames.org.
The James Bulger Memorial Trust is
holding several other fund-raising events, from an abseil down a
light house to a skydive.If any local businesses would like a
collection box or to sell badges or even hold an event to help raise
funds for this charity please contact Stuart at:-
enquiries@forjames.org or phone:- 0151 546 9508.
£25,000 REWARD AFTER CASH MACHINE
IS STOLEN FROM CARNFORTH SUPERMARKET
A reward of up to £25,000
is being offered for any information leading to the conviction of
those involved in the theft of a cash machine from a Carnforth
supermarket. Around 6.20am on Monday 20th January 2014, staff at
Booths supermarket on Scotland Road contacted Police to report that
an internal ATM machine had been stolen from the store overnight.
The offenders broke in through a café window before forcing the
stand-alone cash machine from the ground and dragging it from the
store back through the window and into the boot of their light
coloured Volvo Estate where they drove off. Lancaster and Morecambe
Police enquires so far have led officers to believe the offenders
are from the Merseyside area. They are known to have been in
Carnforth between 1am to 4.30am on the morning of the offence. The
UK's cash machine network LINK has issued a £25,000 reward for
information leading to the conviction of those involved. Detective
Constable Trevor Walker from Lancaster and Morecambe CID said:-
"There is a significant reward on offer to anybody that provides
information that leads to the conviction of the individuals
responsible for this burglary. The offenders were wearing hoodies
with their faces covered with scarves but we strongly believe the
offenders have connections to and possibly reside in Merseyside. The
burglary would have taken around four hours to commit so I would be
keen to hear from anyone that saw anything suspicious in the area in
the early hours of Monday, 20 January 2014, to contact Lancashire
Constabulary on:- 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on:- 0800 555 111
quoting log number:- LC-20140120-0143."
ARMED ROBBERY IN KNOWSLEY ROAD,
BOOTLE
MERSEYSIDE Police have
released a CCTV image of a man officers want to speak to following
an armed robbery at a shop in Bootle on Saturday, 25 January 2014.
Patrols were called to Mals General Store, Knowsley Road, just after
11.55am, to a report from the owner that two men had walked into the
shop armed with a knife. They threatened staff and escaped with the
till which contained a quantity of cash. No one was injured during
the incident. The offenders are believed to have run off across Peel
Road towards the park. A member of the public also reported seeing 2
people fitting the offenders' description running up Tennyson Street
a short time later. A search of the area and house to house
inquiries have been conducted. An investigation is continuing to
establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident. Detective
Constable Kev Reppion, Sefton CID, said:- "No one should be
confronted with a knife in broad daylight when they are simply going
about their daily business and trying to earn an honest living. This
was a frightening ordeal for the woman working there which has left
her very distressed and I want to reassure the community in Bootle
that we are determined to track down and arrest the people
responsible. We have issued a CCTV image of a man we'd like to speak
to in connection with the robbery and I'd ask people to take a
really good look at it. Anyone who recognises anything, or has any
other information which could help us with our inquiries, is asked
to call Sefton CID on:- 0151 777 3823 or Crimestoppers, anonymously,
on:- 0800 555 111. We will act on all the information that we
receive." |
