CHESHIRE police will continue to target cannabis users and those who cultivate the illegal drug, a senior officer has said.

The comments come after a number of significant cannabis hauls in Cheshire this year.

In February, a massive cannabis factory that officers said had the potential to make £6 million a year was discovered at a disused nightclub in Warrington town centre.

A week later, a cannabis farm that police say has the potential to make £4 million a year was uncovered in Little Budworth, near Winsford.

Superintendent Beverley Raistrick said: “We’ve got to use our resources to the best effect and look at what's affecting our communities and the use of cannabis and using buildings to cultivate cannabis, is a problem that we are looking at and will always be looking at.”

Supt Raistrick revealed the force is still heavily reliant on information from members of the public when it comes to tackling drug operations.

She revealed the force receives ‘tremendous support’ from the people of Winsford.

“You’d be amazed how much of our information comes from members of the public,” Supt Raistrick said.

“And it may be just a small bit of information, and that little piece of information in itself doesn’t seem important but then when you put it together with another piece of information from someone else, and just something else that somebody else has told us, and you put it together as a big picture, then the community are helping to solve the communities problems.

“Winsford’s a great place. It’s right in the centre of Cheshire. People who come and live here should feel safe living here, and public support to policing is exceptionally important.”

Elsewhere in the UK, police forces have hinted at a more relaxed attitude towards tackling use of the Class B drug, in the wake of increased budget cuts.

Durham Constabulary became the first police force to publicly acknowledge that people who grow small quantities of cannabis for their own consumption would not be targeted by officers.

Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) for Derbyshire, Dorset and Surrey police forces have since made comments indicating a similar approach.