Drugs stolen from under nose of police

SCORES of cannabis plants were stolen from under the noses of police.

An officer was called to an industrial estate building in Edwin Street, Daybrook, after neighbours became suspicious. A resident claims he saw the officer discover the plants but nothing was done that day.

Officers arrived the next day - but most of the plants had been taken away overnight.

One person told the Post they saw a group of men swooping on the building last Monday night.

Notts Police say an investigation was under way and the claims referred to their Professional Standards Directorate.

One man, who asked not to be named, saw an officer go into the building on Monday.

"I saw the policeman there, he went in the doors, came out, then I saw him talking to someone else," he said. "I could see there was cannabis in there - it was full of it, it was all in the passageway. Then the officer left."

He said he had glimpsed at least 30 plants.

Another man, who also asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals, said: "About 11pm or 12ish a car pulls up in the middle of the road, and then another one, the doors are opened and men are taking black bags in and out in and out," he said. "They were quite quick with it, but I'd say the whole thing took 20 to 40 minutes. They drove off and that's the last anyone saw of them. I think the police haven't done their job properly. This is a normal street with families."

The first man said he then described seeing "five or six" officers raiding the building the next day, and added: "I think the police messed up - to allow them to come and get it like that."

In a statement, Notts Police said: "We were initially called to premises in Edwin Street, Daybrook, at around 7.30am on Monday, June 3, 2013.

"As a result on Tuesday we recovered the remnants of around 30 suspected cannabis plants. The investigation continues.

"The matter has subsequently been referred to the force's Professional Standards Directorate. An internal investigation is under way to ascertain what, if any, action needs to be taken and, as such, we are unable to go into further detail about the incident at this stage."

The building's owner, Ragoowansi Harry, said he rented out the building and did not know about the cannabis until police contacted him.

He said: "I've never met the current tenant - an agent dealt with it."

The building has a sign outside for Community Outreach - believed to refer to a previous tenant. There is no suggestion they are connected.

Notts Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping said: "I'm concerned to hear this and if correct it would appear that best practice has not been followed in this instance.

"It doesn't seem to reflect well on Notts Police."

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk 11/06/2013