Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Nicholas Winterton (Conservative). It was answered on Monday, 9 June 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Drugs Act

Question: In a house in the centre of Macclesfield, in Bridge street, 17,000 cannabis plants were found. They were found only because the electricity system that was helping the plants to grow could not cope with the demand, a fire occurred and the fire service went in. Does the Minister accept that if more police were on the beat—on the street—going past such properties, that sort of thing would not occur, and that the police have a role in trying to ensure that drugs which are killers are not grown in the middle of a town such as Macclesfield?

Answer: The hon. Gentleman makes an important point, and of course police on the street make a real difference. I shall be meeting the Association of Chief Police Officers to discuss cannabis farms and factories, which are a major worry for us all. The hon. Gentleman will have heard my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, in her announcement that the Government would reclassify cannabis from class C to class B, which will also help with police priorities, say that she would organise a meeting with the electricity companies and others to consider whether there is any way we can identify domestic properties that do not have a normal domestic bill, for obvious reasons, and take appropriate action. I hope that that reassures the hon. Gentleman.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 477 c10
Session: 2007-08
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Crime prevention Crime Cannabis Drugs Misuse Mushrooms Rehabilitation Hallucinogens
Legislation: Drugs Act 2005
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk