Hambleton residents are being urged to be extra vigilant after the latest in a series of large scale flytips of cannabis production material was found dumped near Hutton Rudby.
The District Council is working with North Yorkshire police in a bid to track down the people leaving plant remnants and growing paraphernalia in hedgerows across the district. This latest haul of 61bags brings the total to 2024 bags collected this year.
The dumps have been made in numerous locations throughout the area, close to the A172 and A19 roads and the Cleveland border – including Potto, Hutton Rudby, Tanton, Osmotherley, Swainby, Crathorne, Knayton, Great Ayton, Stokesley, Carlton, East Harlsey, Ellerbeck, Ingleby Greenhow, Kepwick, Thorpefield near Thirsk, Overton and Northallerton.
“This latest dumped waste was found in a hedgerow near Hutton Rudby – and with 61 bags, it must have been transported in a van or pick up,” said Cabinet member, Councillor Stephen Watson.
“This problem has been escalating for almost a year. We believe a good deal of it is coming from large scale cannabis operations outside of the district and being dumped where the criminals think it will remain unnoticed. We urge the public to be extra vigilant and if they see anything suspicious report it to either us or the police.
“Under no circumstances should members of the public try to tackle someone acting suspiciously.”
The police are also asking anyone in the North Yorkshire or Cleveland area to report any suspicious activity around industrial units, factory buildings or farm buildings that may be used for cannabis production.
They say the signs to look out for include a pungent smell, covered windows, lights on all the time, the buzz of ventilation / fans whirring, people coming and going at all hours, condensation, excessive security and heat escape – snow/frost melts quickly on the roof.
Chief Inspector Emma Aldred of North Yorkshire Police, added: “Information from members of the public could be of vital help in finding out where this cannabis waste is coming from. It’s clearly being produced on a large scale and must be visible to anyone in the vicinity.
“We urge members of the public to do two things, one is to look out for suspicious people or vehicles in rural areas who might be dumping the waste. The other is to be aware of the signs of cannabis production and report your suspicions to the police or Crimestoppers.”
Anyone with any information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact the police on 101, or pass information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Information can also be reported to Hambleton District Council at hambleton.gov.uk.
Please quote Operation Flash when passing on information.
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