Cannabis Grow - Male arrested

Good Morning Resident,

you may have seen some police activity in Accrington this morning and we wanted to let you know what was happening.

We were called at about 4.40am by a member of the public who had witness a disturbance at a property on Avenue Parade.

We attended and found a sophisticated cannabis grow consisting of 167 plants in various stages of growth which was spread over 2 rooms in the house, with associated heating and lighting equipment.

Officers across Lancashire regularly dismantle, bag and destroy cannabis grows.

Often behind a cannabis grow is an organised crime gang, who are actively exploiting the vulnerable (including children) for their own financial gain. Many of these people have often been trafficked from other countries with the promise of a better life, many live in squalor and many are subjected to violence and abuse.

In addition, grows of this size (and as is the case with this particular set up) can make houses unsafe through faulty electrics, often putting the whole street in danger. Houses (that don’t belong to the occupants) are often destroyed due to drilling through walls, doors and under flooring to set the equipment up. A huge cost to the owner and a huge emotional cost to the families and neighbours who live amongst the daily disruption, criminality and hostility that cannabis farms bring.

A 23 year-old male has been arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and an investigation is underway.

Anyone who thinks illegal drug activity is taking place in their community can contact us by emailing HyndburnTaskforce@lancashire.police.uk, by calling 101 or by anonymously contacting Crimestoppers via https://orlo.uk/vkQOl