POLICE SEEK HELP TO STAMP OUT COAST CANNABIS CROPS

Cannabis Continues to Cause Increasing Problems for East Coast
Communities and Gisborne Police Are Fed Up.

They are calling on the public of Gisborne to help them catch those
cultivating huge outdoor crops and help put an end to related crime.

The public has been asked to provide the police with the locations of
outdoor cannabis plantations and for their help in identifying those
responsible for growing and tending the plants.

Detective Eric Hunter said cannabis was a significant problem for
communities in the Gisborne, East Coast and Wairoa areas, with its
use and cultivation widespread.

Det Hunter said the East Coast featured as one of the country's
largest cannabis producing districts.

There had been an increase in the amount of cannabis destroyed in
this area during the past few years, with police destroying more than
14,000 plants during the 2006 growing season in one operation alone.

Large plantations had been found in more remote rural locations.
However, smaller operations had been found close to the city's boundaries.

"Cannabis, along with other drugs, has a significant impact on
communities with its related crime, which includes theft and
burglaries," he said.

There was a real risk to landowners and the public. This became
heightened when the plants reached maturity and became more valuable,
particularly if a confrontation between those protecting their plots
and the public occurred.

"Damage to areas of native bush and private property is also
prevalent and has a detrimental effect," Det Hunter said.

The health impacts of its use, both physical and mental, were also significant.

Police were continuing to make inroads into the detection and
prosecution of people involved in the cultivation of cannabis, but
needed the public's help to continue their work.

Workers and recreational users in rural areas, such as farmers,
hunters, anglers, and mountain bikers were likely to come across
cannabis plots.

He advised anyone who did so to withdraw from the area immediately
and advise police.

The public has been urged to be on the lookout for suspicious
vehicles, persons and damage or theft of property.

Anyone with information about cannabis plantations is urged to
contact the Gisborne police in complete confidence via the 0800 Crime
Line (0800 274 632) or directly to Detective Eric Hunter 06 869 0268.