Cannabis plants found in Bognor flat raid
DOZENS of cannabis plants were found in a flat above the town centre shops in Bognor Regis
Police raided a flat in the London Road precinct to discover 40-plus plants in various stages of growth.
A man and a woman, both in their 20s, were arrested on suspicion of the possession of cannabis. They were given a formal caution.
Sergeant Rachel Glenton, of the police town centre neighbourhood team, said: “The couple said they were growing the cannabis for their own use.
“They said they couldn’t afford to buy it any more in the current financial climate and so had decided to grow it instead.”
The raid took place last Thursday soon after alert shop staff in Wilkinsons raised their suspicions with the police.
“They could smell cannabis in the vicinity of their shop but they didn’t know where it was coming from,” said Sgt Glenton. “We went into the flat and found two rooms being used as a growing farm.”
Some of the plants had been cultivated. Others were in the process of having their buds cut.
Sgt Glenton said the seizure and destruction of the plants was a victory for community policing.
“It was a really good example of team work,” she stated. “From the information we were given to the police actions which had such a positive outcome.”
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Comments
There are 12 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
SOG001
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:25 PMWell I never thought I'd see Bognor residents so firm on their feelings for such a subject - I admit I'm from the old school were Alcohol and tobacco are acceptable,whereas any reference to other drugs is "unacceptable". Thanks to you all for enlightening me on both "facts" and a resounding wake up call on how such a subject can be so emotive compared to others. So where do we go from here ? - The police already seemtto show restraint and maybe given the circumstances that's OK ? - However do I see a quick hange in the law regarding cannabis or even a firming up of the use of alcohol and tobacco ? - Well I'm not going to bet either way, but one thing do know from these responses, is that there is a lot of sympathy for cannibis users, which I suspect will not deminish. - Off down the pub now !!
david27
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:13 AM@sog001 "Bigger picture please" Not sure what you mean...Peter and Dan's posts would appear to encompass the bigger picture. I'm guessing your reference to lung cancer is to do with smoking, there are other ways to use it which don't involve tobacco its just easier to conceal what you're doing smoking a joint another reason prohibition is bad Re 40 plants comment.....consumption is dependent on method of delivery..not everyone smokes it in joints, some people make tea or edibles -uses more, some people use vaporizers -uses less @th1964....I think "junkies" usually refers to drug addicts mostly heroin users....cannabis is non-addictive but is habit forming in the sense of sugar or coffee
th1964
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 08:07 PMI didn't realise so many junkies read the observer.
A quiet man
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 10:51 PMat a time when we can not clean hospitals , when we can not keep abusers in prison and when we can not walk safe in any city any night because we can not afford the investment our police have so much time and money they can waste it by going out looking for cannabis a non toxic non addictive and according to all the latest advice from G,W pharma a very safe drug, and they would know they grow 300 tons of the super skunk cannabis and sell it all over the world with a government approved licence when was the last time the police closed down an home brewery for producing one of the most harmful substances know to man alcohol ? in fact when was the last time the police closed down a bar for selling drink to a drunk? i think the chief constable needs to get some priority's in order instead of wasting any more money looking for hash
Scots Davy
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 10:34 PMWhat a waste of police resources. No victim, no crime. The staff of Wilkinsons that grassed these people up ought to be ashamed of themselves. What have the couple ever done to them? Nothing I would venture. Attempting to ruin strangers lives is not on. I know that someone from Wilkinsons will read this and I want to say that you are really vile people who should know that a grass is a grass.......
Shorty1786
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 01:35 PMThe time is now to stop this campaign against cannabis. We have fought the war on drugs for more than 40 years and its a losing battle wasting money and police time. Move cannabis to a medicine and allow sick people a life changing drug to allow them to live their life. Drug raids like this does more harm than good to our communitys. Police are giving criminal recOrds to good people all because they grow a plant. END CANNABIS PROHIBITION!!!
Dan Ford
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 12:48 PMWhen the police say 40 plants they include seedlings etc. Many of the seedlings will turn out to be male and of no use. Now even if they did manage to get 40 plants to maturity unless they are experienced gardeners they will be lucky to get an ounce off each plant, so 40 Ounces every four months (an average growth period for properly matured Cannabis) is ten ounces a month for two people, or one and an eighth of an Ounce each per week. This is about right for a medical user. I think once it got to the Police Station and the two were only cautioned showed that someone in the police was very sensible, but the decision to raid these peoples home and cause them severe distress was a wrong one which was a dreadful waste of public money.
SOG001
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 12:30 PMMmm I suggest a re-read of the above - Dan - How can two rooms40 plants be for personal consumption ? (maybe they were supplying the nasty gangsters ??) Peter - Good idea ref the tax and I agree with the alcohol info (but not sure that takes into account lung cancer though). Only real problem I see is that there is nowhere to go from alcohol (well apart from dying) however lotsa choices from Cannabis !! David - Bigger picture please - Tulsa - Get off the cannabis ASAP (try Nitol !!) honestly if your employer finds out - you might not have a job !! ALL YOU WILL MOST PROBABLY NOT AGREE WITH WHAT I'VE SAID - HOWEVER I DO FIND IT INTERESTING THAT YOU 4 AT LEAST COMMENTED ON THIS SUBJECT COMPARED TO OTHERS, MAYBE A HEADS-UP FOR EVERYONE. ?
Dan Ford
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 11:00 AMVictory for what? They will no longer grow their own Cannabis which would have done them very little or no harm. Now instead they won't have any to use and if they were relying on their crop for medicinal supplies they will be having problems. Problems created by the stupid prohibition laws, not by Cannabis. If they need it for medicinal use they will now have to try to scrimp and save to buy just a very small amount for criminally high prices. The money they pay will probably go to some nasty gangsters somewhere along the line, and the Cannabis they receive will be immature of poor quality and quite often poisoned with horrible bulking agents so the dealers can make huge profits.. So I ask again victory for what? It is a victory for those that wish the corrupt black market to continue. POLICE PLEASE ABUSING THE PUBLIC FUNDING, STOP PERSECUTING INNOCENT PEOPLE LIKE THIS. Why are Wilkinson's so worried about the smell of Cannabis anyway? Cannabis users in Bognor give them a lot of trade and they should remember this if they want to stay friends with their customers.
Peter Reynolds
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 10:03 AMWhy don't we try taking a completely new approach to this problem? Around three million people in Britain use cannabis regularly and whatever we do we're not going to stop them. We waste billions every year on police, court and prison resources when a large proportion of society uses cannabis without any problem at all. In fact, the only real problem with cannabis is that it's illegal. The risks to health are very small - much, much less than alcohol or tobacco. By a recent analysis of mortality, hospital admissions, toxicity and propensity to psychosis, cannabis is nearly 3000 times safer than alcohol. Why not introduce a tax and regulate system and realise the benefits? That way we'd have a properly regulated supply chain with no criminals involved, no theft of electricity, no human trafficking, no destruction of property and disruption of neighbourhoods. Then there would be some control over this huge market. There would be thousands of new jobs, sales would be from licensed outlets to adults only with guaranteed quality and safety. Then our police could start going after some real wrongdoing instead of trying to fight a crime that exists only because of a misguided government policy. Cannabis Law Reform (CLEAR) published independent research on 14th September 2011 that shows a cannabis tax and regulate regime would provide a net gain to the UK exchequer of £6.7 billion per annum as well as reducing all health and social harms. The only thing that keeps the present absurd status quo in place is weak politicians corrupted by the alcohol and Big Pharma lobbies. Go to the CLEAR website for full details: www.clear-uk.org
david27
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 09:03 AMWhat are they teaching our police? A victory for community policing to disrupt the lives of two people for growing a plant that is less harmful than tobacco or alcohol? I applaud them for common sense and bravery no not the police the couple they arrested.
Tulsa Grimley
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 08:22 AMA victory? A victory for what? destroying a young couples life? how is some growing a plant to better their lives a crime? I use cannabis to help with many things mainly my insomnia, before i realised the use of cannabis i was a lay about with no future, now thanks to being able to get a good nights sleep, I am employed, after fours years out of work, my career outside of work is coming along immensely, my family relations are at an all time high and I've been able to keep a girlfriend for more than a month... Now how am I a criminal?
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