TEN people have been arrested in Wirral this week as part of a crackdown on cannabis farms.

The Cannabis Week of Action, which was launched by Merseyside Police on Monday, has seen 12 properties raided in connection with the plants across the borough.

Among those arrested was a 36-year-old man from Moreton while two 45-year-olds and a 65-year-old were arrested in connection with an industrial site in Bromborough.

A small number of cannabis plants was also discovered in Rock Ferry where a man in his late 20s was arrested.

Four cannabis farms were found by officers yesterday containing more than 100 plants in total, with five people being arrested.

The scheme to crack down on people growing cannabis in their homes or other properties goes hand-in-hand with the ‘Scratch and Sniff’ campaign which aims to raise awareness of the tell-tale signs of the drug.

The initiative, which was also launched this week, will see scratch and sniff cards being posted through homes across Merseyside so local people know what to look out for within their own neighbourhood.

Superintendent Paul White, a senior officer in the force's anti-gun and gang crime Matrix unit, said the public had an important role to play in helping the police tackle a serious problem.

He said: "Cannabis is not the harmless drug people think it is. It's the most widely used illegal drug in the UK and it is big business for criminal gangs. Those same gangs are also involved in violence, intimidation and gun crime, which blight the lives of decent, law-abiding people.

"We are increasingly finding higher numbers of smaller scale cannabis farms set up in houses and flats rather than industrial units.
"This means that drugs are being grown right amongst us and collectively, the public and the police need to stand shoulder to shoulder and root these drugs gangs out.

"The scratch and sniff cards and the 3D pop-up shop are great ways at telling the public what to look out for when they are out and about where they live." 
 

Supt White added: "A distinct smell, sealed up windows, tampered with electrical wiring, delivery of gardening equipment, visitors at all times of the day and night - these may not seem significant individually but together, this may be a clear sign that a drugs gang is operating on your doorstep.

"My message to people who have this kind of information is: have the confidence to tell this to Crimestoppers.
 

"They are an independent charity, completely separate from the police, who you can pass information to completely anonymously.
 

"They in turn will tell us so that we can take the necessary action against these gangs who are damaging people's lives and our communities."