The second phase of Crimestoppers campaign in the war against cannabis farming is now being launched, following its first project that was launched in 2013. Part of the project is handing out "scratch and sniff" cards to members of the public in an effort to "educate" them in being able to recognise the distinctive smell of the plant when being cultivated.

Crimestoppers is a charity that works alongside police forces in the war against cannabis farming. Seventeen police forces are targeting the main hot-spot areas throughout England and Wales.

The Lead for Cannabis of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO),Chief Superintendent Bill Jephson, said: “Those who commercially cultivate cannabis are serious and organised criminals often involved in other criminal ventures. Houses in residential areas are used to produce the cannabis, which brings violent offenders into the heart of our communities and leads to a real risk of fire and flood. We’re working with Crimestoppers again this year to fight back and keep our communities safe.

“Ordinary people who come forward and share their concerns will be our best source of information. The campaign explains the tell-tale signs that a cannabis farm exists and how people can ensure the information they have gets to the police in confidence. I would urge everyone to act as our eyes and ears or, in this case, our noses to sniff out the criminals.”

As reported almost daily, more and more cannabis farms are surfacing in residential properties operated by criminal gangs.

The Police are warning that by the existence of these farms will attract serious crime into these residential areas, this will include gun crime, power theft and human trafficking.

They report that criminal gangs see the cultivation of cannabis as a low risk and cost for high profit which leads to selling Class A drugs.

There is clear evidence that many of these gangs once establishing a new farming "base", will further their criminal activities into the onerous practice of human trafficking.