| You
are in Culture Growing
Securely - how not to get caught
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. Don't use film, get yourself a digital camera,
although be aware that digital photos have the date encoded into the file!
| 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. | |
