Lights seized from a cannabis farm in Headingley are now being used by local rugby league Super League side Leeds Rhinos to grow their own grass.
Previously the high-powered lights that criminals use to mimic the sun’s rays to grow the drug would have been thrown in a skip and disposed of, with any other materials once the scene had been forensically examined. But under a ‘swords to ploughshares’ initiative, West Yorkshire Police officers in Leeds passed on the equipment to local community groups and organisations for legitimate use.
PC Kevin Hussey, of the Inner North West team, noticed that each time officers uncovered a large-scale cannabis farm in a house they needed to pay for skips to dispose of the large amount of electrical equipment and soil. He looked into whether the items could be put to better use in the local community and contacted a number of groups to see if they would collect the goods instead. He contacted the Rhinos and found out they were using a special lighting rig to grow grass on worn areas of the pitch at their stadium.
He said: “We already have an excellent relationship with Leeds Rhinos and they have worked with us on a number of community initiatives with schools and young people over the years. When I found that we could donate equipment seized from cannabis farms to local groups I discussed it with their head groundsman to see how we might be able to help them out. Previously we would have to pay to hire skips to dispose of all the equipment but this way we can save money and see something that criminals have been using in the illegal drugs trade put to a positive use in the local community.”
Officers were called to a house in Richmond Mount, Headingley, after information from locals that it was being used as a cannabis farm. When police forced their way into the three-storey terraced property they found the whole house had been fitted as a cannabis growing set-up with around 500 plants. One man, a Vietnamese national, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of cannabis production and immigration offences. He was charged to appear at court. Around 50 lights and transformers were removed from the property and collected by the club for use in growing grass on the pitch.
At Leeds Rhinos also Yorkshire Carnegie rugby’s home, Head Groundsman Ryan Golding said: “We have a great relationship with the police, especially through the work of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation and this just further grows those links. The lights will certainly be put to good use especially at this time of year.”
Unused soil and pots from the house were also donated to Brudenell Primary School for its garden.
