Opinions - Child Victims Of UK Cannabis Farm Boom

[enquirewithin]

DrugScope Reveals Child Victims Of UK Cannabis Farm Boom

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/82542.php


DrugScope is highlighting the plight of Vietnamese children and young people caught up in illegal cannabis cultivation in this country. Trafficked to the UK by drug gangs, children as young as 14 are being coerced into working as 'human sprinkler systems' to water and tend plants in UK cannabis farms. When a cannabis farm is raided, these victims of 'modern slavery' can face harsh penalties in the courts, despite their trafficked status.

In March this year, DrugScope's Druglink magazine revealed that on average UK police were raiding three cannabis farms a day. In just two years, 1500 cannabis farms were shut down in London alone [1]. An analysis of nationwide police raids revealed that around two-thirds to three-quarters of UK cannabis farms were run by Vietnamese criminal gangs [2].

Conditions inside the cannabis farms are cramped and dangerous, with inhabitants at risk of injury or death due to fire or electrocution. Police have found children living in cupboards and lofts to maximise space for plants, in houses powered by electricity running from makeshift connections to mains supplies. According to the London Fire Brigade, 50 cannabis farms were detected in the city last year because of house fires caused by faulty lights or re-wiring [3].

Following the Druglink investigation, DrugScope has been working with ECPAT UK, the anti-child trafficking charity, and the Refugee Council, to find out more on the fate of these children and young people once a cannabis farm has been detected. DrugScope is today highlighting concerns over the treatment of these children and young people and the response of UK authorities.

When police raid a cannabis farm, often the only arrests made are among those present at the time of the raid - usually those tending the plants. Upon arrest, some Vietnamese children and young people have been classed not only as illegal immigrants but charged with drugs offences. Court cases have seen young people facing charges relating to cannabis cultivation, which can carry a maximum sentence of fourteen years.

In June, the Home Office published a report into child trafficking which identified Vietnamese young people as a vulnerable group who had been particularly exploited in cannabis production. The report details several cases where Vietnamese children have been jailed for cannabis cultivation and called on the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to avoid prosecuting trafficked cannabis farmers [4]. DrugScope has also learned that the Head of the CPS, Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Ken Macdonald, told an All Party Parliamentary Group on trafficking in July that he would be warning prosecutors to take into account the back story of children found working in cannabis factories.

Last month, ECPAT UK hosted a round table event to discuss the issue, attended by representatives of DrugScope, the Refugee Council, the Vietnamese community, the CPS and senior police officers.

Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope, said:

"Some have considered large scale cannabis cultivation as an almost 'victimless crime' but the reality is that vulnerable young people are being exploited.

"Unfortunately they find themselves victims twice over - both at the hands of the criminal gangs who brought them to this country, forcing them to work in cramped, dangerous conditions to fuel the illegal drug trade - and again when they find themselves treated as criminals by the UK authorities.

"DrugScope urges the Home Office to issue formal guidance as soon as possible to the UK courts. These children should not be serving jail terms - they should be given support and protection."

The Druglink report on child trafficking for cannabis cultivation will be appearing in the September/October edition of the magazine.

[1] Source: Druglink investigation, March/April 2007. In the period 2005 - 2007, police raided 1500 cannabis farms in London alone. This figure was three times the number of farms raided in the period 2003 - 2005.

[2] Source: Druglink investigation, March/April 2007. Initially thought to be limited to the Greater London area, in the period 2006 - 2007, Vietnamese-run cannabis farms have been found in London, south Wales, Birmingham, East Anglia, Yorkshire and the North-East.

[3] Source: Druglink investigation, March/April 2007

[4] Source: Home Office publications - Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre: A scoping report into child trafficking in the UK, June 2007

[Pondlife]

It's shocking that the gardeners are being prosecuted, and sometimes jailed, for what should not be a crime at all. Even if we accept that growing cannabis commercially is a crime, surely these plant-waterer's are not doing that; they are just tending the plants.

This thread also discusses this topic: http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38290

I think that "child labour" is a bit disingenuous if 14 is the youngest and they are just watering plants. It's legal to employ 14 year olds in the UK, although there are limits on the number of hours that they can work. It is possible that they were forced to work long hours, but the article doesn't mention this.

[Joe Duffy]

Yet another reason for legalization and regulation.

[Nature Boy]

It all sounds a little far-fetched to tell you the truth.

[BackToBasics]

It does to Budgie as well..just sounds like another angle on reefer mania if anything.

[Alicia]

hmmm.. most of the problems they outline could all be done away by making it regulated or at least allow people to grow there 'Own' amounts.

another media scare and worry...