What can I do if my neighbours are smoking cannabis? Read what action you can take

Should you call police and what happens if you do? Read our handy guide...

ByJon Lewis

Thousands of cannabis smokers recently gathered in London's Hyde Park to defy police and light up joints.

Despite warnings not to smoke drugs in the park, pot enthusiasts descended in their thousands for the annual pro-marijuana rally.

The smokey protest is held each year on April 20 because the date is 4.20, which smokers also claim is the 'perfect' time to spark up a joint.

The activists are calling on the Government to legalise the Class B drug and risked arrest by using the illegal drug at the event.

But what can you do if you step outside your home and get a whiff of something not exactly legal from your neighbours?

 

Here’s a handy guide compiled by Devon Live.

Can people smoke cannabis on their own property legally?

Absolutely not. Any suggestion that you can is an urban myth. A Derbyshire police spokeswoman said: “The possession of cannabis is an offence and will be dealt with by police. It is a widespread issue across the county and we are focusing our resources to target those connected with the cultivation and dealing of the drug to help crackdown on the issue. We would encourage anyone who suspects drug activity in their community to contact us.”

Call the police? Won’t my neighbours find out I’ve done it?

The police say no. A spokeswoman said that Derbyshire police would “never give away a caller’s identity”. She said: “We wouldn’t say information has come from a neighbour as that narrows it down. We’d just say we received a call about x.” She added that officers on patrol might also use tip-offs to inform where they go on patrol. If they were to smell the cannabis themselves, they might knock on the door and broach the subject that way. She added that people could always call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 if they wanted to remain anonymous throughout the process.

What will happen to my neighbours if I call the police about them?

The police spokesman said this could depend on a number of variables, including the amount of cannabis, and whether someone has had any previous convictions.

If they’re renting, what about telling my neighbour’s landlord?

That’s also an option but you’d need to remember that the landlord isn’t bound to avoid giving your identity away in the same way that police are. As long as the tenancy agreement has been drawn up properly, they’ll be in breach of it. But you also need to bear in mind that there are constraints as to what the landlord can do. A spokesman for the National Landlords Association, said that, if landlords suspect cannabis use, they should “arrange for a visit to the property, provided they have given the tenant advance warning”. He said: “If they see or smell what they believe to be evidence of cannabis use, they should remind and warn the tenants that such actions are in violation of the tenancy agreement. If, when they next visit the property, they see the same evidence they may then wish to resort to serving a section 21, or eviction, notice.

I am the landlord. What can I do to stop cannabis being used at my property?

Chris Norris, of the National Landlords Association, said: “While we recommend taking references of prospective tenants from former employers or landlords before offering a tenancy, it can also be necessary to make checks on the property after they have moved in. These should be carried out quarterly if there are any concerns but make sure that you give the tenant or tenants sufficient notice beforehand so as not to disrupt privacy. Lastly, get to know the neighbours and local residents, as they can help alert you should they either see or smell what they suspect to be cannabis use on the property.”

How can I find out who the landlord of a property is?

A good starting point is to find out who the Land Registry have as the owner of the property. It’ll cost a few quid but you can get the information from this website.