Have a question?
033 3772 0409

Legal News

The sentencing was not in proportion to money involved in growing cannabis says police chief (12 September 2012)

Date: 12/09/2012
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, The sentencing was not in proportion to money involved in growing cannabis says police chief

The police chief for Merseyside police has called for tough punishments for drug related trade which was driving up gang related violence.

Cultivation and selling of cannabis must be dealt with serious penalties as the surge in this trade was driving up shootings and gang related violence he warned.
Assistant Chief Constable Andy Ward of Merseyside police, the chairperson of the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, said that the punishments for those caught growing and dealing in cannabis were not serious enough deterrent and the drug was now causing greater problems for police than class As.
The easy money that came out of the production of cannabis had resulted in bitter struggle between rival gangs who were keen to exploit the ease with which it could be produced. The shootings in Merseyside had soared by a third since April and the same must be with other regions, Ward said.
Ward, who also heads the force's elite Matrix unit that works to combat drug and gun crime, said "A lot of these shootings were linked to activity around cannabis.
In March, six forces targeted cannabis farming in a month-long operation resulting in the seizure of cannabis with a street value of nearly £9m. In Merseyside alone, police arrested 147 people over the four-week period.
Ward said unlike class A drugs, which the criminals couldn’t make themselves, there was the opportunity to grow cannabis in the bathrooms or bedrooms of houses. This way they could make a lot of money very quickly at less risk to themselves and less risk in terms of sentencing.
It was also found that the criminals who were previously been involved in something else were drifting into the cannabis world.
The amount of money being made by criminals was not being reflected in the amount of sentencing. While the maximum terms for cultivating and supplying cannabis were not dissimilar to equivalent offences involving class A drugs, in practice the sentencing lengths vastly differed Ward said.
Citing example he said in May last year, Stuart Thompson was jailed for 15 months for setting up a £2m-a-year cannabis factory in a barn he owned near Widnes. Alan and Ian Farley, two Liverpool brothers who were part of a £2m heroin operation, were each sentenced to 14 years in January 2011.
Despite the rise in gang-related violence, Merseyside police says things can improve.

Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
Duncan Lewis is the trading name of Duncan Lewis (Solicitors) Limited. Registered Office is Spencer House, 29 Grove Hill Road, Harrow, HA1 3BN. Company Reg. No. 3718422. VAT Reg. No. 718729013. A list of the company's Directors is displayed at the registered offices address. Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority . Offices all across London and in major cities in the UK. ©Duncan Lewis >>Legal Disclaimer, Copyright & Privacy Policy. Duncan Lewis do not accept service by email.