FOUR people have been arrested by police on suspicion of growing cannabis after 50 plants were found at a home in Hill.

Neighbourhood officers seized the plants and growing equipment from an outhouse at the property on Tuesday, April 24, with four arrests being made.

Those arrested were later released under investigation pending further enquiries.

The outbuilding was made safe by staff from the electricity network due to a risk of fire and electric shock from the set-up, with police saying that several fires have been caused in the force area as a result of tampering with the electricity supply in order to grow cannabis.

Only days before, at around 10am on Friday, April 20, officers patrolling the Jubilee Playing Fields in Greenhill, Alveston found a 17-year-old boy from Horfield in possession of cannabis, a prescription-only tranquilliser and a white powder.

He was arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs with intent to supply and released under investigation, with a second teenage boy due to be voluntarily interviewed after being found in possession of white powder.

Following the increase in complaints over antisocial behaviour in public places, Thornbury neighbourhood police are to increase targeted patrols, and have announced they will be continuing to use information from the community to target areas where there have been reports of ASB and drug use involving young people.

Acting neighbourhood sergeant Stuart Cumine said: “As well as carrying out enforcement activity we’re working with Thornbury Town and South Gloucestershire Councils, social services, youth service providers and schools in our response to this issue.

“We’re concerned by reports of drug use in our public spaces, especially involving groups of under-18s. As well as cannabis, we’ve seized prescription medications which can cause blackouts, putting young people at greater risk of accident or injury, or falling victim to crime.”

He emphasised the neighbourhood team’s reliance on the community reporting incidents, and urged for anyone with information to get in touch through the police website or by calling 101.

Alternatively, information can be reported anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

More information about drugs is available at talktofrank.com.

Confidential help and advice on treatment are available for drug users who want to quit by contacting Developing Health and Independence (DHI) on 0800 0733011.