Cannabis farms found in old cinemas and banks

London: Police uncovered more than 6,800 cannabis factories in the last year, a report said Tuesday, with farms found everywhere from disused cinemas to former banks as the recession led to more vacant buildings.

The Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland said almost 750,000 cannabis plants, with a value of around £85 million (Dh487.43), were found in the financial year 2009/2010, up from around £576,800 the year before.

Empty buildings

"There are currently a growing number of disused industrial and commercial buildings which are attracting criminals for the purposes of cannabis cultivation," the report said, with examples including former pubs, nightclubs, hotels and banks.

"These buildings are often already boarded up and are therefore desirable to criminals."

Seized plants

The largest recorded cannabis factory was found in Cambridgeshire in July this year, where more than 7,600 plants worth £2.5 million were seized.

The government reclassified cannabis to a Class B drug, from Class C, in 2008, meaning possession could mean tougher punishment, including a maximum five-year jail term.