Residents in the Nottinghamshire market town of Newark say they are "shocked" after almost 500 cannabis plants were found above a shop in the town centre. Shortly after 9am on Monday, October 24, Nottinghamshire Police were called to Middle Gate after receiving reports of a broken window.
Once at the building officers investigated further, and discovered three rooms full of cannabis plants in the flat above a Yorkshire Trading company store. A total of 466 plants were counted by police officers in the flat above, all of which have been seized.
Following the discovery, residents in Newark have shared how "surprised" they are about the large number of plants being grown under everyone's noses. A 55-year-old from Newark, who did not wish to be named, said: "I'm surprised it's there, but I'm not surprised about the actual growing as we have heard about it a lot in the news, but I'm surprised it's up there.
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"You normally heard about it in houses and agricultural places. I'm surprised you couldn't smell it from the window." Retired June Stephens, 70, said incident was "concerning".
She said: "It's shocking, really shows we don't have enough police. I hadn't actually heard about it at all." June explained that she would like to see more police officers in the area, and fears drugs are being grown in quiet areas rather than cities to avoid suspicion. She said: "I think we do need more support in that way.
"I think this is probably what they are doing, they are moving into areas that are quiet. I do think we need to be more aware of it as well, as it is awful and then it leads to other substances."
A 75-year-old from Balderton described Newark as usually being "a quiet town". When told about the discovery of cannabis plants, she explained that it was something she might expect to hear of "in the city or something, but not on your door step".
When asked if she had any concerns for the town, she said: "You don't see many police officers about. Newark's certainly a lot different to what it used to be, it's getting worse."
She added: "I wouldn't come out at night now." When told about the discovery, retired resident Pauline Costello, 77, said: "How didn't people notice, where were they getting the power from?"
She described the situation as "frightening" as Newark was "a real quiet little place". Pauline said: "What surprised me if that people didn't notice. It's not a nice thing for a little place like Newark. It doesn't surprise you in a city but when it comes to a little market town it does."
A 52-year-old, who did not wish to be named, said: "I think it [cannabis] should be classed as a Class A drug, it just ruins people's lives. The trouble is the legal system is so weak and the courts are so weak, what can they do."
A 60-year-old from Newark, who did not wish to be named, said: "I would like to see more of a police presence, and I think most people would agree, for everything not just specifically for drugs."
The comments come after Dorset's police and crime commissioner David Sidwick called on the powers that be to "make cannabis a Class A drug". Sidwick is part of a group of Conservative PCCs who have called on the Government to reclassify the drug from a Class B to a Class A drug.
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