You
are in Culture
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Growing
Securely - how not to get caught
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WARNING!
All
growers should be aware, despite the ready availability
of growth systems and seeds and despite the fact that
so many people are doing it that penalties on conviction
for growing cannabis can be severe, and prison is a very
real possibility. Anyone growing more than a handful of
plants is likely to be prosecuted for intent to supply,
even if such supply would be on a social basis, sharing
with friends or even for medical use. Although some escape
with a fine or community service, 6 months to 2 years
imprisonment is common in cases of social supply, or even
simple 'production'. What actually happens depends on
where you live and whether or not the police like you,
it's a real postcode lottery. |
Informants
Most
growers are busted as a result of informants, these would
often be small-scale dealers (or not so small-scale), who
may see successful growers as a threat to their profitability.
Talking to anyone about a grow-room is a risk. Word gets around.
Shops
There
is much concern about police seizing grow companies mailing
lists, so most do not keep them anymore. However intelligence
about grow-shop customers is gathered by various other means
without any information being provided directly by the shop.
Such means may include:
- telephone
records (may include bugging of conversations)
- surveillance
of retail premises, noting car registrations of customers
- Information
held by courier companies where goods are delivered
- Credit
card/switch records
Helicopters
Police
helicopters fitted with infra-red imaging equipment are used
by a number of police forces. When these are not chasing car
theives, grow-rooms in attics or similar areas show up like
a beacon to the heat-sensitive cameras. Suspicious premises
may have their electricity records checked, or an informal
'visit' may take place, in order to determine whether there
are any telltale aromas, before a warrant is applied for
Smell
The
smell of cannabis is distinctive and the smells of hybrids
can be very powerful. If you are living with the system you
will become accustomed to the smell, but a visitor would notice
it and most police officers would recognise it. Even with
extractors and venting, any visit by police (e.g. door to
door enquiries, burglaries etc) may result in search and seizure.
As cultivation of plants takes several months, the risks of
detection are much greater than you think.
Visits
A
number of grow-rooms are discovered by accident. If a person
is arrested on another charge, police have the power to search
the home address without a warrant under s18 PACE. A positive
drugs search, or arrest for theft or other criminal offences
may lead to discovery.
Regular visitors with statutory rights of access to property
include employees of utility companies to read meters, TV
licensing, child-care social workers and a few others. Whether
or not there is any official policy regarding reporting suspected
growers to the police (e.g. where electricity consumption
is excessive), individual visitors or meter readers, like
any member of the public, can telephone various hotlines to
report their suspicions.
Photo-processing
Several
photo-processing firms often report people with pictures of
cannabis use among their photos in for development.
| If
you are done for growing, ensure you speak to a solicitor
before being interviewed. Make sure the police retain
all of the plants in paper sacks (allowing them to dry
out) so any estimates of yield can be independently verified
if necessary. Disputes commonly arise on the potential
yield of plants, the proportion of flowering tops, valuation
and on appropriate levels of consumption. There are a
small number of expert witnesses who are willing to work
for the defence in such cases, and who are able to challenge
excessive estimates of yield, amounts consistent with
personal use, and/or valuations. Fees will normally be
met by an extension of legal aid. One of the most established
expert witnesses are the Independent
Drug Monitoring Unit. |
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