Drugs seized after Council and Police action
Hundreds of cannabis plants have been seized following a day of action in Sutton and Stanton Hill.
On Thursday 24 November 2022, Officers from Nottinghamshire Police, Ashfield District Council’s Community Safety Department and Selective Licensing Team carried out intelligence-led warrants and seizures at four properties on St Michael’s Street and Cooperative Street in Sutton-in-Ashfield.
The day of action resulted in three males being arrested in connection with the cannabis plants found at the properties, all have been released on police bail pending further investigation.
The cannabis plants are estimated to have a street value of over £100,000 and will now be destroyed and repairs will be made to the dangerous electric meters found at two of the properties in question, which had been illegally bypassed.
The Council are in the process of reviewing the landlords ‘fit and proper’ status which may affect their ability to hold a license and let properties throughout the District. Increased hi-visibility patrols and monitoring of the Council’s CCTV surveillance system will continue in order to assist the Community Safety Partnership within the area to promote feelings of safety and to listen to residents’ concerns.
Inspector Jon Hewitt, District Commander for Ashfield, added:
“These intelligence-led warrants would not have been possible without information received from our community and should send out a very clear message. The cultivation of cannabis on this kind of industrial scale is something we take extremely seriously and we will continue to do everything we can to disrupt the people responsible. Cannabis cultivation is big business and is very often linked to serious organised crime groups from home and abroad – truly unpleasant people who won’t think twice about using extreme violence to grow and protect their business.
Residents in neighbouring properties are also placed at considerable risk of fire from the sheer amount of combustible materials and chemicals stored in these grows, and the highly dangerous modifications made to the electrics. To put simply, this is an activity that should never be ignored or excused. So if you have reason to suspect a property in your street please contact the police and tell us about it. We will listen, we will investigate and we will look to take this kind of firm action.”
Cllr Helen-Ann Smith, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Lead Member for Community Safety and Crime Reduction added:
“These ongoing operations will help us to keep the residents of Ashfield safe whilst increasing our chance to take action against drug dealers and those who are causing the most harm to our communities and in the worst cases placing lives at risk.
The partnership day of action by Ashfield District Council and Nottinghamshire Police has resulted in three arrests and selective licensing conditions being reviewed at all four properties inspected.”
“Ashfield District Council is committed to reducing crime, anti-social behaviour and ensuring decent and safe homes for residents within the District. Delivering on projects such as the Safer Streets and Selective Licensing initiative has improved the community safety for residents within Sutton and made landlords more responsible and accountable.”
