Police raid Chippenham cannabis factory (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

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Police raid Chippenham cannabis factory

8:11pm Friday 4th July 2008

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By Scott McPherson »

Police in Chippenham have raided the first ever cannabis factory in the town this morning.

A number of officers raided the house in Heathfield at 11.30am and are still at the scene removing the drugs.

The raid came after a tip off and officers acted quickly to secure a warrant and search the premises.

Police have now launched a manhunt for the occupants of the house who were not in when the taid took place.

Chief Inspector for North Wiltshire Gavin Williams said: "This is the first of it's kind in Chippenham - it has happened a few times in Swindon but never here.

"We are now urging anyone to come forward with information about the occupants of the house.

"All information will be treated in the strictest confidence."

The house had been converted to a cannabis factory where a number of plants had been cultivated and cropped.

Anyone with information should contact Chippenham CID on 0845 408 7000, or anonymously, on Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Joe, Wiltshire says...
11:33pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Good to see police success against the drugs menace in Chippenham. Drugs are readily available to the young in the town and more action needs to be taken, well done for this success

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Chris, Chippenham says...
11:23am Sat 5 Jul 08

Good to see the police acting quickly and efficiantly and that our taxes sre being used wisely. I would however say this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to drugs in this town and they certainly have their work cut out. But Great Work
boys (and girls)

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Chris, Chippenham says...
11:24am Sat 5 Jul 08

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greenwaylane, chippenham says...
6:58pm Sat 5 Jul 08

Well Well what a suprise maybe the police should spend a few minute standing outside the flats in greenway lane and they will no doubt see drugs being sold openly.

the end of Broomfield nd Oaklands is ripe with people dealing with weed and nobody seems to be bothered.

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DingDonG, Wilds of Wiltshire says...
7:32pm Sat 5 Jul 08

If the raid was at 1130 yesterday, does anyone know why the police hellicopter hovered very low over Bromham for 20 mins at the same time?
It returned at 1230 and did the same!

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greenwaylane, chippenham says...
9:01pm Sat 5 Jul 08

Hill Rise area of Chippenham has seen more helicopters in one day than you will see at Fairford air tattoo next weekend.

About time the police got off their backsides and started patrolling the area more. especially targeting the drug dens scattered around the place. then start on the BMW owners who think nothing of driving at 60mph down greenway lane whilst small kids are playing, and OAPs are crossing the roads.. THE COUNCIL HAVE TURNED THE PLACE INTO A HELL HOLE.

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moonraker1, chippenham says...
11:57pm Sat 5 Jul 08

Cannabis factory. Do they offer work experinence ???

That part of Chippenham is so rough they want the gypsies to move in so the house price will go up.

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Wiltshire Resident, Wiltshire says...
6:40am Sun 6 Jul 08

DingDonG wrote:
If the raid was at 1130 yesterday, does anyone know why the police hellicopter hovered very low over Bromham for 20 mins at the same time? It returned at 1230 and did the same!

That was for some locals who stole a lorry load of metal. Funnily enough they ran off when Police stopped them.

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walter, wilshur says...
7:29am Sun 6 Jul 08

moonraker1 wrote:
Cannabis factory. Do they offer work experinence ??? That part of Chippenham is so rough they want the gypsies to move in so the house price will go up.

Too right, but what to do? We are breeding a sub-culture of council/housing association tenants who spend their benefit on drugs and supplement it with crime. If they actually had to WORK, they'd have less time for their antisocial activities. Why not construct a wall and minefield around the estates?

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Mum, chippenham says...
10:58am Sun 6 Jul 08

I agree that the Police have done a brilliant job here - lets just hope they are able to catch those responsible. However, in response to Walter and his comments on housing association properties/tenants it is, therefore, quite ironic that this property was built in the 1950's before the rest of the estate and started life as a POLICE HOUSE. It was sold by the force in the 1980'S and has been privately owned ever since. Anyway, this aside, I hope the comments with regards to drug dealing in Greenway Lane are looked into seriously and stamped out if proved to be true.

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jas, wiltshire says...
11:44am Sun 6 Jul 08

well i live near this house whots next the area of chippenham is getting worse pot heads and crazy drivers ,,,,,

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carolinebakerbaldric k, stockley says...
1:39pm Sun 6 Jul 08

DingDonG wrote:
If the raid was at 1130 yesterday, does anyone know why the police hellicopter hovered very low over Bromham for 20 mins at the same time?
It returned at 1230 and did the same!

Yes, Three yobs were robbing the church. Aitalic bold ll three were arrested. I was told they were after the lead. The daft thing is, are all the yobs that commit crimes these day scarred of the dark, being they are active in broad daylight.

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Wiltshire Resident, Wiltshire says...
6:01pm Sun 6 Jul 08

carolinebakerbaldrick wrote:

DingDonG wrote: If the raid was at 1130 yesterday, does anyone know why the police hellicopter hovered very low over Bromham for 20 mins at the same time? It returned at 1230 and did the same!
Yes, Three yobs were robbing the church. Aitalic bold ll three were arrested. I was told they were after the lead. The daft thing is, are all the yobs that commit crimes these day scarred of the dark, being they are active in broad daylight.

Actually they weren't stealing anything from the church. They were followed by Police after they had stolen metal from somewhere else. They dumped their van near the church and legged it. Cops 3 Villains 0.

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DingDonG, Wilds of Wiltshire says...
6:38pm Sun 6 Jul 08

Wiltshire Resident wrote:

carolinebakerbaldrick wrote:
DingDonG wrote: If the raid was at 1130 yesterday, does anyone know why the police hellicopter hovered very low over Bromham for 20 mins at the same time? It returned at 1230 and did the same!
Yes, Three yobs were robbing the church. Aitalic bold ll three were arrested. I was told they were after the lead. The daft thing is, are all the yobs that commit crimes these day scarred of the dark, being they are active in broad daylight.
Actually they weren't stealing anything from the church. They were followed by Police after they had stolen metal from somewhere else. They dumped their van near the church and legged it. Cops 3 Villains 0.

Thankyou both for the reason(s) for the chopper hovering for a total of close to 1 hr very low over Bromham on Friday lunchtime.
Guess the 20 min break between was to refuel back at base, as I understand fuel consumption is alarming when hovering for ths length of time.
Wonder if the Guzzette will publish the full story later in the week?

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moonraker1, chippenham says...
8:12pm Sun 6 Jul 08

Watching the Formula One race on TV today, I decided that I needed some realism, so I turned the volume down and opened the windows. and the sound of the BMW engines roaring past my house made it feel like being in the Grandstand at Silverstone.

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Curious, Chippenham says...
6:46am Mon 7 Jul 08

Watching the Formula One race on TV today, I decided that I needed some realism, so I turned the volume down and opened the windows. and the sound of the BMW engines roaring past my house made it feel like being in the Grandstand at Silverstone.

You lucky devil moonraker, who was driving, Nico Rosberg or Kazuki Nakajima?

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moonraker1, chippenham says...
6:40pm Mon 7 Jul 08

I notice on another thread that the people in Calne had to deal with a teenager carrying an AK47. much prefer a teenager with a bit of grass than an AK47.

no doubt if it gets any worse in Chippenham it wont be long before guns are seen in the streets.

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Joe, Wiltshire says...
11:22pm Mon 7 Jul 08

The drugs situation in Chippenham is bad and the young can easily get what they want, this is good news but there is a ready supply out there.
Does not help that i know a number of other parents who actually turn a blind eye to their kids doing drugs its pathetic parenting but true.
Alot see canabis as harmless and just hope there kids stop there.
Canabis is the gate way to other drugs, knives guns and crime

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pebbles, Chippenham says...
12:51pm Wed 16 Jul 08

It isn't just Chippenham of course, everywhere is like it - a national problem. I have twice now seen one of the homeless people in Chippenham dealing drugs on the corner of Foghamshire - this man is known to the police and yet do they do anything about it? I also went to Hathaway Retail Park the other day in broad daylight to get some milk from Tesco and needed to get cash from the machine outside. There was a homeless man with a cap begging just 3 feet away to the left and another suspicious man sitting on the steps 3 feet to the right - did I go to the cashpoint? Did I hell as like! I went back to my car and drove down Hungerdown Lane to the Tescos there. True, nobody was threatening me, but I was no way going to put myself into a vulnerable position! Sad reflection of the way we have to live these days!

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