Drugs
Dealing with cannabis and cannabis smells and what to do when you suspect drug dealing is taking place.
Suspected drugs/dealing
Drug use or dealing is a criminal offence and needs to be reported to the police. Once you've made your report, please contact us with the incident/crime reference number and the investigating officer's name and contact details. We can then contact them and work with you to agree the appropriate next steps.
Report antisocial behaviour related to drug use
Drug use can sometimes be associated with antisocial behaviours, including actions that cause harassment, alarm, or distress to others. If you witness or are affected by such behaviour, our Community Safety Team can investigate the matter. You can make a report via our portal at My Sage Home.
Your report helps us keep our community safe.
Useful websites
Cannabis and Cannabidiol (CBD)
We often get reports of cannabis smells causing nuisance and annoyance to neighbours or people living close by. Using cannabis is a criminal offence, it's a Class B drug in the UK with a maximum prison sentence of five years for possession. Being convicted of a criminal offence is also a breach of the tenancy agreement.
Using Cannabidiol (CBD) is not illegal and can be purchased legally in shops and smoked or vaped. CBD gives off a similar smell to illegal cannabis. If you use CBD yourself, please be considerate of your neighbours as the odour may affect them. You could, for example, look at buying an air purifier for use at home.
Reporting cannabis use
We cannot take legal action against anyone using illegal cannabis unless they're convicted of using, possessing, or intending to supply it. If you're being affected by the smell of cannabis you should report the drug use to police by ringing 101. You can also make anonymous reports to Crimestoppers by visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by ringing 0800 555 111.
If the police makes us aware of any tenant being convicted of drug-related offences, then the Community Safety Team will open a case and explore what other legal action can be taken, including injunctions and ultimately possession proceedings.