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Search for press releasesCannabis coordinator appointed
26 September 2008
Former Chief Superintendent Mark Matthews will lead the work detecting and disrupting organised criminals who supply cannabis.
The Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) announced Matthews' appointment as coordinator today.
The appointment comes as the government prepares for the parliamentary process to reclassify cannabis to be a Class B drug. That move is based on concerns of the prevalence and strength of more harmful forms of cannabis (particularly skunk), along with trends towards cannabis production linked to organised criminal gangs.
The new position
The new post has an innovative role in sharing intelligence and guidance among law enforcement agencies to help ensure that the UK is a hostile environment for criminals who seek to profit from cannabis cultivation.
Based in Merseyside, with a national remit, Mark Matthews as the cannabis co-ordinator will:
- identify patterns in cannabis cultivation and co-ordinate cross border investigations by working with police units across the country to detect developing trends such as gangs growing cannabis in rented accommodation
- liaise with law enforcement agencies to help share good practice in detecting cannabis farms, such as using infrared equipment that could detect where cannabis is being grown
- clarify the scale of the problem by researching cannabis cultivation trends across England and Wales.
Home office minister's statement
Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said, 'I welcome the appointment of Mark Matthews as our Cannabis Co-ordinator. Mark will help to ensure that we have a consistently robust enforcement approach to tackling large scale cannabis cultivation and help to put away the organised criminal gangs who seek to profit from this illegal harmful activity.
'I want those criminal gangs who are involved in supplying illegal drugs to experience the fact that the UK is a hostile place in which to do business. We will bring them to justice and seize their ill gotten gains. I know that Mark shares my ambition.
'While cannabis use has fallen in recent years, we know that the market share of skunk has grown. Mark’s appointment shows that we are not complacent against the scourge of any illegal drug. We will continue to bear down on drug dealers through tough enforcement; while providing education through information campaigns such as the FRANK website (new window) in order to warn our young people about the dangers of illegal drugs.'
The ACPO lead on drugs statement
Tim Hollis of the Association of Chief Police Officers said, 'This is a good example of effective joint working between the Home Office and ACPO in tackling a significant element of criminality which is harming local communities.
'The improved intelligence and co-ordination is being delivered as a result of this initiative will allow all 43 forces to make a bigger impact on cannabis factories.'
Cannabis coordinator's statement
Mark Matthews said, 'The harm to neighbourhoods that is increasingly associated with illegal cultivation and trade in cannabis provides a challenge for law enforcement within the United Kingdom. The police service is responding to that challenge, with more raids on cannabis farms than we have seen previously and a tougher approach to policing cannabis on the street. We now want to step up action against the organised crime networks that are involved in the cannabis trade.
'Traditionally, law enforcement has focussed upon drug issues at the point of importation. Here we are seeing criminals producing drugs within our local neighbourhoods. The same criminals are also very often engaged in other forms of illegal activity such as counterfeiting, tax evasion and people trafficking.
'I would ask property rental companies, landlords and local residents to be vigilant and to report any suspicious circumstances in confidence to their local police station or to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.'
Notes to editors
- Cannabis use has fallen across all ages, according to the British Crime Survey and Information Centre’s Drug Use, Smoking and Drinking Among Young People in England in 2005.
- The Home Secretary told the House of Commons on 7 May 2008 that cannabis classification will be upgraded to B.
- The government continues to carry out tough enforcement against cannabis use. Latest statistics show there were 114,502 cannabis seizures in 2005 alone. More recently, during National Tackling Drugs Week, 89 cannabis farms were disrupted while over 1,500 people were arrested for drug offences.
- The ACPO press office can be contacted on 020 7084 8947.
- Mark Matthews is a member of the ACPO tackling cannabis cultivation working group.
- National Tackling Drugs Week took place took place between 19 and 23 May 2008.
- More information about drugs can be found on the FRANK website (new window)
