Police are asking farmers to keep an eye on their crops and to be on the look out for cannabis plots and suspicious activity associated with the drug.

Police say the growing season for cannabis has started with many of the plants grown in rural areas.

Detective Sergeant John Miller says farmers and other rural residents need to be vigilant at this time of year, as cannabis growers often steal equipment to use in their plots.

'Equipment can include quad bikes, electric fence units and fertiliser. Cannabis growers are also known to cut fences, so they can get to their plots.”

John is also urging retailers, particularly rural supply companies, to be on the look out for people, who are not regular customers, buying large amounts of fencing equipment and plant nutrients.

He says farmers and other rural residents should take note of any unusual vehicles, people coming and going, and unusual lights at night.

'If people notice suspicious activity they should get vehicle registration numbers, and other vehicle details such as make, model and colour.

'They should also take note of the location and time the activity is occurring.

'If people haven't got a legitimate reason for being in the area then they are likely to be cannabis growers.”

John says Police are appealing to the public not to ‘turn a blind eye' to cannabis growing, as it has a harmful effect on everyone in the community from the damage it causes to young people through to associated crime such as burglary.

'People who grow cannabis can also be dangerous and will go to any lengths to protect their plots, such as booby traps and poison.”

Every year police arrest several offenders, however they say to reduce the amount of cannabis in the community, and the crime that goes with it, they need the help of the public.

'We can't do it alone and need communities to be on the look out. If people want to be and feel safer they need to report this crime to police.”

If anyone has information relating to cannabis growing or dealing they're asked to contact their local Police station in confidence or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.