VOTE: More people than ever are growing cannabis at home

DIY dope growing is increasing around the town.

Arrests for possession of cannabis have soared by 50 per cent compared to last year. Tip-offs to the police about households thought to be used for cultivating the drug have risen as well.

They are being received every other day. The information given is helping to lead, on average, to a drugs raid on premises around the town every fortnight.

Inspector John Merrick, of Bognor Regis police station, said: "My officers are typically finding between four and 30 cannabis plants in each property.

"Some people just have a few plants in a little cupboard which they are growing for their own use.

"Others are growing more plants to supply others. They could have a whole bedroom given over to cannabis plants."

There were 48 incidents of people in the Bognor area being charged with possession of cannabis from the start of this year until mid-July. This compared to just 32 in the prior year.

Insp Merrick said two or three accounts of cannabis cultivation were being received at the police station each week. "We will act on any intelligence we get.

"It is often people reporting what they believe is suspicious activity at a neighbour's house.

"But we obviously may need more than one piece of information before the public see any action," he said.

"We can often combine the information we receive with our own intelligence. Or officers often do find about information about drug use.

"We will obtain a warrant to enter premises when we consider the information we have is sufficient."

Most cannabis cultivation took place indoors because it harder to detect than growing it in a garden.

He said that class A drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, were always given a higher priority because of the impact they could have on individuals and the community.

Cases of possession of other drugs around Bognor have also risen steeply so far this year. Up until July 15 they reached 13, compared to five last year.

Trafficking offences have gone up in the same period from four to five.

Incidents of drugs use have also risen this year around the Five Villages and Arundel, according to police figures.

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