BOLTON’S top cop is warning property owners, letting agents and housing associations to be on their guard against cannabis farmers.

Crime gangs rent residential properties to use as cannabis farms and drug factories which can leave landlords with huge repair bills.

Now, Chief Superintendent Steven Hartley is leading a seminar at the City of Manchester Stadium to raise awareness about the impact that the crime can have on property and the damage it can do to communities.

The event has been organised by Greater Manchester Police’s Scorpion priority group which has been set up to fight drug crime.

Ch Supt Hartley, who is in charge of Bolton police and is GMP’s lead officer on drug crime, said: “We are working with our partners to tackle drug crime at a number of different levels.

“This includes hard-hitting raids that close down drug dens, tackling dealing and use on the streets and awareness raising with young people through youth clubs and schools that warn of the dangers of drug use and crime.”

Ch Sup Hartley added: “This seminar will give landlords and letting agents the information they need to stop them falling prey to organised drugs gangs and curtail the home-grown supply of drugs “We are committed to stopping drugs blighting communities and ruining lives and bringing the criminals that spread this misery to justice. I urge landlords to come to this seminar and find out how they can make their property letting systems hostile to and safe from these criminals”.

Criminal gangs often remove internal walls and floors to maximise the space they have to grow cannabis and install watering and lighting systems that are dangerous and pose fire and electrocution risks.

They also install crude venting systems through external walls and roofs and store vast quantities of soil, compost and chemicals.

All these structural changes can leave the building in an unsafe condition, may cause it to be condemned or at very least leave the landlord with a huge repair bill.

Most insurance companies are unlikely to pay out on buildings or contents policies in these situations.

The event will take place on Thursday, June 11.

To attend contact Bob Collier on 0161 856 2218 or Dave Boon on 0161 856 2235.