'Don't let your home be used for crime' - Major Lancashire Police update on Blackpool cannabis farms
The operation focuses on absentee landlords and abandoned properties, with police saying the latest figures show the approach is working.
The number of recorded cannabis factories in Blackpool has fallen by 63.8% in the past 12 months, according to Lancashire Police, following a crackdown targeting rental properties and absentee landlords.
Blackpool Taskforce launched Operation Printex in 2024, working alongside Blackpool Council as part of Operation Warrior to reduce the number of cannabis farms being grown in rented accommodation.
The operation focuses on absentee landlords and abandoned properties, with police saying the latest figures show the approach is working.
Lancashire Police has urged landlords to remain vigilant about what is happening inside their properties and warned that they could face criminal responsibility if they knowingly allow their premises to be used for drug-related activities.
Under Section 8 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, landlords can become criminally responsible if they knowingly permit their properties to be used for activities including cannabis cultivation and drug dealing, police said.
Lancashire Police has also highlighted the wider risks associated with cannabis cultivation in residential properties, warning that cannabis farms can be linked to organised crime, exploitation and human trafficking.
The force said cannabis farms can also involve bypassing electricity supplies and using hazardous products during production, creating serious safety concerns for people inside the properties and their neighbours.
Police are encouraging landlords to check their properties regularly and report any concerns. The force said: “So, don’t let your property be used to fund crime. Check what’s going on behind the doors before we do.”
Anyone with concerns can contact Lancashire Police on 101. In an emergency, people should always call 999.