Closure Order granted for Coventry house following discovery of cannabis factory

The property on Villiers Road will be shut for at least three months.

Author: Ben CartwrightPublished 18th Dec 2023

A property in Coventry has been closed after a cannabis factory was discovered to be operating within it.

Working alongside partners including Coventry City Council, West Midlands Police's Problem Solving team successfully secured another closure order against a property being used.

The order makes it a criminal offence for anyone to enter the property in Villiers Road for at least the next three months.

The cannabis grow was uncovered in November, when officers responding to a burglary at the address uncovered the operation.

Coventry North East neighbourhood Inspector Sarah Stobbart said: "We are continuing to take action against drug dealing and the types of offending which go along with it.

"Cannabis factories pose a significant risk to the properties nearby and the wider community.

"The electricity in these premises is often dangerously bypassed and can cause catastrophic fires which spread to neighbouring houses."

The closure order, secured on 11 December, was granted by magistrates in Coventry, who were satisfied there was a risk of further criminal activity, as well as the risk to neighbouring properties.

Cllr Abdul Salam Khan, Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, said: "I’d like to thank everyone for their work.

"It’s another good example of the partnership between the local police and ourselves.

"We’ll take action against the small minority of people who break the law, and will continue to hold landlords liable for the actions of tenants.”

He added: “It is an important message and culprits will not get away with it.

"Landlords have a responsibility to monitor the behaviour of tenants.

"We need to work on behalf of the vast majority of law-abiding residents who should expect a good quality of life where they live."

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