A new leaflet is being sent to letting agents in the London area to help them identify and crackdown on drug use in their properties.
Crackdown
Operation Hawk is a London-wide scheme aimed at cutting drug offences.
Police in the Wandsworth area have sent pamphlets to over 120 agents as part of the operation. The document, entitled Keeping Illegal Drugs Out of Rental Properties, contains useful information on how to spot telltale signs that their property is used for the storage and taking of illegal substances. These signs could include stained coffee filters and a large quantity of small plastic bags.
The document also contains useful advice on how to spot cannabis and amphetamine factories. Things to look out for include:
- Discarded allergy medicines
- Overwhelming chemical odours
- Large numbers of people smoking outside the property
- Sharp rise in electricity bills
- Damaged wallpaper
Katy Shepherd, Acting Sergeant, called on agents to take the time to read the pamphlets. Shepherd said: “We are asking agents to disseminate the leaflet to the landlords that they have got on their lists.”[1]
[1] http://old.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/news_features/Police-ask-agents-for-help-against-drugs-war