Infra Red Eye in the Sky Helps Police Target Cannabis Criminals

Source: westyorkshire.police.uk

There is no place to hide for Cannabis producers in West Yorkshire, especially with the Police helicopter watching from the skies.

So far this year over 250 Cannabis Farms have been spotted by the Police helicopter, thanks to the advanced thermal imaging cameras it carries.

Many Cannabis factories are excessively heated to help produce the drug and this heat literally makes Cannabis Farms stand out a mile when X99 is in the area.

Head of West Yorkshire Police's Air Operations Unit, Chief Executive John Whittaker said: "As the picture shows, through the thermal imaging cameras onboard the helicopter, hot areas show as an area of black in the camera, so a house being used as a Cannabis factory will be far blacker than surrounding properties."

"Growing cannabis to sell is a serious offence for which a sentence of 3 years imprisonment can be expected. Some people do it as a sort of cottage industry and probably do not know the possible consequences. I want those people to get the message that if you grow it, we will find you and you will go to prison. It's as simple as that," said Chief Superintendent Chris Hardern, Head of Operations Support Division.

When the helicopter spots a suspected Cannabis factory, the information is passed on to Divisional Drugs Team officers who are able to search the properties once they are granted a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Force Drugs Coordinator Bryan Dent said: "The Force helicopter has proved to be a great tool in helping us tackle Cannabis Farms in West Yorkshire. It's thermal cameras identify possible factories and Drugs Team officers can follow this information up with warrants and raids. The results we have had show that regardless of the size of the Cannabis Factory, the thermal cameras can effectively pick out this type of drug activity."

"This is a successful way of working and further highlights how the Force takes a pro-active stance to identify and close Cannabis Factories and protect the communities of West Yorkshire. We are always appealing for members of the public to pass on any suspected drug behaviour to us by calling Dob In A Dealer in confidence via 0800 555 111."

"Cannabis production should be relatively obvious to spot as the factories will often be emitting an unusual and distinctive odour. Neighbours may also hear a lot of banging noises as the factory is set up and see people coming and going with bags of fertiliser and compost and other equipment such as powerful lights."

“It is likely the curtains will be kept closed at all times but bright lights may appear to be left on around the clock. Residents living in the street are again likely to see various comings and goings when the crop is harvested, such as bags being loaded into a vehicle."

One example of how effective X99 has been in discovering Cannabis Factories was in March 2007 when, whilst out on another operation, the Force helicopter passed over a house in the Upton area that was seen to be giving off a particularly high heat signal.

The information was passed back to Division and a subsequent raid on the 20 March 2007 led to the seizure of 57 Cannabis plants. As a result a 36-year old man from the Upton area of Pontefract is awaiting sentencing at Bradford Crown Court after being found guilty of Possession With Intent to Supply Class C Drugs.

More recently, on the morning of Wednesday 16 July, as a result of information received from X99, officers from Castleford Neighbourhood Policing Team attended an address in Ferry Fryston where they discovered what was believed to be more than 30 cannabis plants and hydroponics equipment. A 35-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of production of controlled drugs and abstracting electricity.