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Rural cannabis cultivation alert Rural cannabis cultivation alert
(about 5 hours later)
Police have appealed for public help in stopping remote rural properties being used to cultivate herbal cannabis.Police have appealed for public help in stopping remote rural properties being used to cultivate herbal cannabis.
A Dumfries and Galloway police spokesman said there had been a nationwide increase in the number of such "factories" in operation.A Dumfries and Galloway police spokesman said there had been a nationwide increase in the number of such "factories" in operation.
He warned that buildings in isolated parts of the region could be seen as ideal for producing the crop.He warned that buildings in isolated parts of the region could be seen as ideal for producing the crop.
Police now want the public to watch out for any "tell-tale" signs a cannabis farm is operating in their area.Police now want the public to watch out for any "tell-tale" signs a cannabis farm is operating in their area.
Acting Det Insp Colin McColm said the force had become aware of an increasing problem.Acting Det Insp Colin McColm said the force had become aware of an increasing problem.
"There have been a number of seizures of herbal cannabis and I think it has been reported nationally the increase in cannabis cultivation throughout Britain," he said."There have been a number of seizures of herbal cannabis and I think it has been reported nationally the increase in cannabis cultivation throughout Britain," he said.
'TELL-TALE' SIGNS OF HERBAL CANNABIS CULTIVATION Blacked out windows with condensationPeople or vehicles turning up at unusual times for short visitsFertiliser or compost bags left lying aroundBins full despite property being emptyRoof opened up to ventilate the propertyUnusual smell coming from buildingLarge deliveries of lighting equipment'TELL-TALE' SIGNS OF HERBAL CANNABIS CULTIVATION Blacked out windows with condensationPeople or vehicles turning up at unusual times for short visitsFertiliser or compost bags left lying aroundBins full despite property being emptyRoof opened up to ventilate the propertyUnusual smell coming from buildingLarge deliveries of lighting equipment
"Speaking to other forces throughout Scotland I think every force has had more than one major cannabis cultivation - so I think it would be naive to think it is not going to affect us in this area as well."Speaking to other forces throughout Scotland I think every force has had more than one major cannabis cultivation - so I think it would be naive to think it is not going to affect us in this area as well.
"The thing about these cultivations in our area is that they could be stuck in the middle of nowhere.""The thing about these cultivations in our area is that they could be stuck in the middle of nowhere."
He said there were a number of signs which the public should watch out for.He said there were a number of signs which the public should watch out for.
"What intelligence suggests is that people lease these houses," said Det Insp McColm."What intelligence suggests is that people lease these houses," said Det Insp McColm.
"In our area, it is a rural area, so it might be an outbuilding that people see cars going up to late at night or somebody turning up to once a week."In our area, it is a rural area, so it might be an outbuilding that people see cars going up to late at night or somebody turning up to once a week.
"To ventilate the factory they might need to open up the roof - so are there tiles disturbed, or something sticking out of the roof to assist in that?""To ventilate the factory they might need to open up the roof - so are there tiles disturbed, or something sticking out of the roof to assist in that?"
Professional job
Substance misuse officer Pc Scott Jardine said people should also watch out for new residents moving to an area.Substance misuse officer Pc Scott Jardine said people should also watch out for new residents moving to an area.
"Intelligence also tells us that there are people being brought into the country specifically for the role of cultivating cannabis," he said."Intelligence also tells us that there are people being brought into the country specifically for the role of cultivating cannabis," he said.
"These guys are professional at their job, they know what they are doing, they know how to achieve their goals.""These guys are professional at their job, they know what they are doing, they know how to achieve their goals."
However, he said that information from the public could be a vital element in stopping them carrying out that work.However, he said that information from the public could be a vital element in stopping them carrying out that work.