Would you be able to sniff out a cannabis farm?

by James Snaith

Householders are being urged to help sniff out crime... literally!

New scratch and sniff cards are being sent out to 23,000 homes across Kent, to help families weed out rogue neighbours.

The cards give off a smell similar to cannabis, so eagle-eyed tenants and homeowners can grass in dodgy criminals who break the law to run cannabis farms.

The Crimestoppers cards will be sent to homes alongside A5 information leaflets (pictured right) to educate people on what signs to look out for.

Steve Mellers, the area manager for Kent Crimestoppers, said the public can help cut crime by sticking their nose in.

He said: “I’m not sure the public are aware of what to look out for. It may well be that there is one just down the road from you but you don’t know it.

“The leaflet will tell you the signs to look out for, such as the strong sickly smell, the fact the house might have its windows blocked out all hours of the day or that lots of cables are running into the house.”

Nearly 100 factories were uncovered in Kent between 2010/12, contributing to a 15% increase across the UK.

The figure isn’t something that surprises Mr Mellers.

He said: “Over the last few years cannabis farms in homes have become quite lucrative and criminal gangs find it an easy way to make money.

“Just last week a lorry was stopped at the Port of Dover containing £5m of cannabis resin that could have been grown just down the street.”

A close-up of a cannabis plant

He added: “A similar campaign has been run in Holland and the public response was overwhelming.

"A lot of information came in and these farms are tied in with organised crime.”

Crimestoppers is an independent charity that helps the police solve crimes to make communities safer. Anyone with information can call anonymously on 0800 555 111