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Nearly £9
million of cannabis plants sized
CANNABIS with a street
value of nearly £9 million has been seized across the North West in
an operation targetting cannabis farming.
Officers from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (Titan),
alongside the 6 regional Police forces from Merseyside, GMP,
Cheshire, Lancashire, North Wales and Cumbria, launched a month long
operation back in March to crack down on the growth of cannabis
across the region.
Officers have also been working with utility companies, garden
centres, DIY stores, local authorities, fire services and the Royal
Mail to help them to spot the signs that cannabis is being grown and
the typical equipment being bought by criminals for cannabis
cultivation.
Detective Superintendent John Lyons, from Titan, said:-
"During the month there was heightened police activity across the
region to combat this increasing problem in our communities and to
raise awareness of the dangers of cannabis farming. Cannabis is not
the harmless drug it is often perceived to be and is the most used
illegal drug in the UK. An increasing number of people who grow
cannabis are directly funding dangerous, organised criminal gangs.
These gangs are often responsible for gun crime, violence and
intimidation across the North West. Many of the set-ups are also
fire hazards due to dangerous wiring and abstraction of electricity.
With the increase we are seeing in smaller farms, often found in
just one room of a property or in rental properties, there is a real
danger to the public and we have been delighted with the number of
people who have been coming forward with information about suspected
cannabis farms in their area. The operation has resulted in
significant seizures of cannabis, a high number of arrests and the
destruction of hundreds of cannabis farms. However, we cannot fight
this problem alone and urge members of the public to keep telling us
about suspected cannabis cultivations on their streets so we can
continue to take action against those responsible. We hope this
sends out a strong message to anyone thinking of becoming involved
in cannabis cultivation; whether from letting a room in your
property be used for cannabis growth or to those higher up the
chain; that we will not tolerate this activity and we will be using
all our powers available to ensure you will be contemplating the
price of blighting our communities from behind bars."
As well as the seizure and destruction of 17,722 cannabis plants and
associated equipment across the region, officers have also seized
more than 4kg of cannabis leaf and large quantities of other drugs
including cocaine and LSD.
In the last three years more than 5,120 cannabis factories
containing an excess of 345,000 plants with an estimated potential
street value of around £140 million and an estimated annual yield of
£560 million have been discovered across the North West.
There has been an increase in the number of cannabis factories
across the region with a steady rise in the number of smaller
cannabis farms, often in rental properties, which are linked to
organised crime groups.
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.
► Individually these activities may seem
commonplace, however, together may indicate something more sinister.
In Merseyside, 147 people have been arrested on suspicion of
involvement in cannabis cultivation in 135 raids in the last month
and police are continuing to work hard to identify those
responsible, destroy their crops and put them before the courts.
Officers have dismantled 130 cannabis farms and seized 5,520
cannabis plants with an estimated street value of more than
£2,750,000 as well as confiscating £48,600 in cash.
There has also been a 50 per cent reduction in firearm incidents in
Merseyside when comparing March 2011 when there were 10 shootings to
March 2012 when there were 5 incidents.
Superintendent Mark Harrison, who led Operation Broadley for
Merseyside Police, said:- "We have made significant seizures
of cannabis and a high number of arrests across Merseyside that has
resulted in a decrease in gang tensions and firearms incidents in
connection with this activity. People in Merseyside are our eyes and
ears and we urge them to tell us, or Crimestoppers, about any
suspected cannabis farms in their area. During this operation we
have seen a large increase in the amount of information from the
public in connection with suspected cannabis farms and associated
activity via Crimestoppers. We will continue to act on all
information we receive to try to stamp out this problem in
Merseyside and to put those responsible before the courts. There is
a strong and distinctive smell to cannabis and I would urge any
members of the public to contact us if they suspect it may be
growing somewhere so we can help rid our communitues of this danger.
People who grow cannabis often have a total disregard for the safety
of others, frequently endangering the lives of those in neighbouring
properties by tampering with electricity supplies and leaving live
electrical cables exposed, increasing the risk of fire. Drugs and
their associated activity cause misery to our communities and we act
on all information we receive to disrupt and ultimately prevent
those involved in the drugs trade from operating on our streets. We
urge anyone with any information about suspected cannabis farms in
their area to call us, or Crimestoppers, in confidence, so we can
take action against the offenders."
Anyone with any information about cannabis cultivation is asked to
call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on:- 0800 555 111.
The total results for the region and for Merseyside:-
Number of warrants executed:- 341 (region), 20 (Wirral), 25
(Sefton), seven (Knowsley), 18 (St Helens), 21 (North Liverpool), 44
(South Liverpool)
Number of cannabis farms discovered:- 211 (region), 30 (Wirral), 18
(Sefton), 10 (Knowsley), six (St Helens), 28 (North Liverpool), 38
(South Liverpool)
Number of arrests:- N/A (region), 15 (Wirral), 30 (Sefton), 21 (Knowsley),
38 (St Helens), 21 (North Liverpool), 22 (South Liverpool)
Number of cannabis plants seized:- 17,722 (region), 240 (Wirral),
2,118 (Sefton), 71 (Knowsley), 946 (St Helens), 1,000 (North
Liverpool), 1,145 (South Liverpool)
Estimated value of drugs:- £8,861,000 or an estimated annual yield
of £35,444,000 (region), £2,760,000 or an estimated annual yield of
£11,040,000 (Merseyside)
Cash seized:- £64,090 (region), N/A (Wirral), N/A (Sefton), £13,600
(Knowsley), N/A (St Helens), £7,000 (North Liverpool), £28,000
(South Liverpool) |
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Big Dance 2012
DANCE fever is set to
strike the North West this summer as Merseyside Dance Initiative
(MDI) announces Big Dance in the North West, to take place across
the region from Friday, 18 May to Sunday, 9 September, with a
particular focus in Big Dance week from Saturday, 7 July to Sunday,
15 July 2012.
Big Dance is the UK's biggest ever celebration of dance and is one
of the highlights of London 2012 Festival, the culmination of the
Cultural Olympiad. Big Dance 2012 will feature work on television,
in the streets, in theatres and schools and right into the heart of
communities all over the country.
In the North West, MDI is working with Dance Initiative Greater
Manchester (DIGM), Ludus Dance (Lancashire) and Dance Cumbria to
deliver dance events throughout the season with a flagship project
that links up all the boroughs of the region and brings together
over 1275 participants in a mass performance at Chavasse Park in
Liverpool One on 15 July 2012. The artistic structure for this will
be provided by Choreographic Consultant Jeanefer Jean Charles whose
career began in Merseyside, North West based Artistic Director Lisi
Perry and 25 North West artists.
Big Dance 2012 is a national programme co-ordinated by the
Foundation for Community Dance and is supported by major
organisations including: Creative Scotland, Sport England, NHS
London, London Councils, Youth Dance England, Council for Dance
Education and Training, Dance Champions, Sport and Recreation
Alliance and the British Council. Big Dance is delivered through a
network of the UK's leading dance organisations and will feature 9
days of dance in unusual spaces throughout the UK; shopping centres,
parks, galleries, and lidos; showcasing the diversity of dance
styles across the country.
The Big Dance Schools Pledge will start off the season of dance.
This is a World Record attempt, aiming to see over 250,000 people
dancing to the same choreography across the world, at the same time.
The Schools Pledge Record Attempt will take place at 1pm on Fri 18
May, the day in which the Olympic Torch arrives in the UK.
Choreographed by Stockport born Wayne McGregor CBE the dance can be
performed in schools and private venues. Schools and groups who have
signed up for the Schools Pledge in Merseyside and Manchester are
also invited to gather at the Grand Hall in St George’s Hall,
Liverpool or the Live Site in Exchange Square in Manchester to dance
the same choreography alongside other groups. If groups are
interested in performing at these venues they need to contact:-
info@mdi.org.uk for Merseyside or email:-
deb@digm.org.uk for Manchester.
Mira Balchandran Gokul, Big Dance Northwest Co-ordinator said:-
"The Schools Pledge is a great way for any group to get involved,
even if you have no experience of dance. Although primarily meant
for schools, several other groups want to promote fitness among
employees by signing up to be part of this event. Once a group
registers there is a downloadable video link with supporting
material to help learn the choreography which can be adapted to the
level of ability of each group. In addition to that we also have
artists trained up to support teachers and group leaders. St Georges
Hall and the Liver Site are great venues to come together for
performing this sports inspired dance choreography, alongside other
groups."
It's not too late to register. Just click on
here.
Everyone is invited to join in and make dance part of their lives in
2012 and beyond!
A full programme will be announced shortly.
2 organisations
have been awarded contracts to deliver Positive Youth Provision in
Halton
FOLLOWING a tendering
process involving over a 150 young people, Catch22 and Young
Addaction Halton have been commissioned to deliver youth provision
in Halton for 2 years from 1 April 2012.
Catch 22 will deliver open access and universal services based on
its offer of a varied menu of activities and opportunities for young
people, delivered locally in youth clubs, at times when young people
said they require access and support.
Catch22 will be working closely in partnership with Young Addaction
and other local providers including Halton’s acclaimed Canal Boat
Adventure Project and will deliver activities relating to sport,
arts, education and young people’s participation.
Nicky Shaw, Catch22’s Area Manager, said:- "From its inception
over 200 years ago, Catch22 has always worked to improve provision
and outcomes for young people. This new commissioning arrangement
marks the start of a new era for youth provision in Halton. We know
that Halton has excellent young people with significant potential
and we very much look forward to meeting and working with as many as
possible over the coming months and years."
Young Addaction has also been successful in winning the contract to
provide specialist services for young people involved in risk taking
behaviour such as substance misuse and poor sexual health. They will
offer early intervention and targeted outreach services to young
people and communities affected by anti-social behaviour...
Service manager David Humphreys says:- "I’m pleased and
honoured to be able to continue the excellent work undertaken by the
team and build upon some strong foundations through the many
partnerships we have developed. Young Addaction Halton has been at
the forefront of delivering specialist and targeted services to
young people for over 6 years and we will continue to provide the
young people and their families with the packages of care and
interventions to ensure they lead a healthy, safe and prosperous
lifestyle."
Vital donation
for Vital Sounds
THE Southport based
insurance company Paymentshield has made a donation to the Vital
Sounds Foundation as part of its ongoing support for the charity.
The Vital Sounds Foundation offers schools, colleges and businesses
in Merseyside access to a heart screening programme to screen pupils
and staff for undiagnosed heart conditions. Paymentshield provided
the venue for its first ever-successful heart-screening event last
October and plans are being made for another. Paymentshield have
raised over 1 thousand pounds for the Vital Sounds Foundation, by
auctioning off printer toners online rather than disposing of them
in the traditional way. The cheque was presented to the charity by
ex-Liverpool defender and Match of the Day pundit Mark Lawrenson who
is a patron of the Vital Sounds Foundation. Mark Lawrenson said:-
"The sports world is still shocked by Fabrice Muamba's collapse
in the FA Cup-tie match with Tottenham last month. Supporting the
Vital Sounds Foundation is now very important me, if this simple 15
minute test can help identify undiagnosed heart conditions then I
certainly feel that every school and college should sign up and
offer this service to their pupils." Paymentshield, which is
part of Towergate Insurance Group, has helped the Towergate
Charitable Foundation raise over £5 million for its chosen charities
since 2005. Tim Johnson, chief executive of Paymentshield, said:-
"The Vital Sounds Foundation provides a life-saving service that
isn’t offered to young people, and both supporting and raising
awareness of this charities good work is essential."
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