Worksop: Police to carry out raids in bid to crackdown on cannabis supply

Police chiefs have this week confirmed to the Guardian that intelligence is currently being gathered ready for specific properties to be targeted within the next three weeks.

As part of the month-long operation, residents in the town’s neighbourhoods are being urged to come forward and report any suspicious activity.

Detective inspector, Mike Allen, said: “Cannabis growth is a vicious circle.”

“It is something we have seen an increase in over the last two years in terms of home invasions.”

“Some people grow it for social use but some grow it for others because they are in debt.”

“When this happens we have seen masked men break into houses, which often turns out to be the wrong house, armed with weapons such as machetes and knives.”

“This is terrifying for the families and children in the house.”

In 2013 there were 127 home invasions linked to cannabis in Notts – violence and injury was inflicted in 39 per cent of cases.

Residents have been advised to look out for a number of warning signs such as condensation in windows that never goes away, compost outside homes that do not have gardens and a sweet smell in the surrounding area.

Mr Allen added: “Police will be acting on any intelligence and we are asking residents or anyone out in their community to look out for the signs that could point to a cannabis factory. Be the eyes and ears of your community.”