Police find a 1,022-plant cannabis farm growing in an ex-magistrates' court next to their own station
- Farm discovered in former magistrates court next to Runcorn Police station
- Court was shut in 2017 in cost-cutting cull of half of 320 magistrates' courts
- Backlog of cases across England and Wales has risen to 364,122
Police have found a cannabis farm growing next door to their own station.
The farm – with 1,022 plants – was discovered in a former magistrates' court next to Runcorn Police Station in Cheshire.
It was shut in 2017 in a decade-long cost-cutting cull of half the 320 magistrates' courts in England and Wales. Meanwhile, the backlog of cases has risen to 364,122.
Shadow Justice Secretary Steve Reed said: 'It beggars belief. Criminals are walking free because of the disastrous case backlog, yet a court sold off by the Conservatives is being used to grow cannabis.'
Mr Reed has written to Justice Secretary Dominic Raab about the case adding it has ‘raised concerns about the continued closure and repurposing of magistrates courts’. He has asked Mr Raab how many former courts remain unoccupied and how many have been investigated by the police.
Two large skips with items including large cylinders or tubes were found outside the old magistrates building by Liverpool Echo reporters.
A spokesman for Cheshire Police stated in a statement to reporters: ‘Cheshire Police officers executed a narcotics warrant at a business premises in Halton Lea, Runcorn, about 12 p.m. on Thursday, November 25.
‘A large number of cannabis plants were located on the premises,” the summary concludes.’
A 20-year-old has been charged over the Runcorn discovery.
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