Public is urged to sniff out cannabis farms

SCRATCH and sniff cards to help members of the public recognise the smell of cannabis are to be handed out across the region as part of a major crackdown on illegal drug farms.

The cards, which contain an element replicating the smell of cannabis in its growing state, will be used to target hotspots for illicit cultivation in West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Humberside.

West and South Yorkshire are ranked first and second in the country for the number of cannabis farms found, according to a recent report by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

A 2012 review revealed residential buildings are increasingly being used to house cannabis farms, rather than industrial properties.