On the afternoon of Thursday March 11, 2010, officers from Coleshill's Safer Neighbourhood Teams, including police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs), successfully disturbed the production of over 1 kilogram of cannabis in Water Orton.

The officers carried out a search of a Water Orton property and seized the cannabis after information was received from members of the public. A strong smell of cannabis was also noticed in the area by the local Community Beat Officer and PCSO.

PC 616 Nina Bowden said:"This has been a positive step to reducing crime and antisocial behaviour in Water Orton and its surrounding areas. We rely on help from the public to help us protect the communities we serve from harm. I would encourage anybody with any information on the cultivation or production of cannabis to pick up the phone and report it."

The following tips may help people identify a cannabis factory:

* Windows of the property are covered from the inside

* Visits to the property occur at unusual times

* People do not live in the premises but visit to maintain them

* A vent protruding through the roof or a rear window

* A pungent smell coming from the premises

* Noise coming from the equipment, such as cooling fans

* Large amount of pots and lights may be moved into the premises when the factory is set up

* In terraced houses, shared walls may appear wet

* Large amounts of heaped soil and pots in back garden.

If you have information you would like to report, please contact Warwickshire Police on 01926 415000. Alternatively you can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.