Comedy | January 13, 2011 | 14 comments

Police Storm in on Suspected Hydroponic Hothouse (But Only Find a Few Startled Guinea Pigs)

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Yorkshire cops have apologised after swooping on a suspected Bradford cannabis "hothouse", only to find a couple of pampered guinea pigs languishing by an electric heater.

Six officers in three vehicles descended on Pam Hardcastle's house after a police chopper's dope-busting camera picked up a suspicious infrared hotspot.

Yorkshire's finest also dispatched a plod to request that the 42-year-old primary school learning mentor return pronto from work. She told the Yorkshire Post: "The officer said they wanted me to go home. He said my garage lit up when the police helicopter was out and they believed I could be growing cannabis."

Back at the scene, meanwhile, Hardcastle's mum explained to the anti-drug SWAT team her daughter "had guinea pigs in the garage and would have a heater in there to keep them warm".

The coppers, however, pressed on with the operation, and having gained entry to the facility, "took one look at the guinea pigs, then left".

Hardcastle concluded: "My neighbours told me police were everywhere. Everybody was asking what I had done wrong. It is embarrassing."

West Yorkshire Police Inspector Darren Brown offered: "I would like to apologise for the distress this may have caused. However, I would point out that these tactics are essential in tackling drugs across the district."

He reassured: "I can also reassure the occupants that their details will not be kept on police records and I will be personally visiting them to discuss any concerns they may have."

The guinea pigs - named Simon and Kenny, the Sun helpfully notes - are apparently none the worse for their ordeal.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/12/guinea_pig_farm/
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  2. tags:
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14 comments // Police Storm in on Suspected Hydroponic Hothouse (But Only Find a Few Startled Guinea Pigs)

  • juicie
    • +1
      juicie  

    • This is NORML outreach director Radical Russ' take on this story:

      his story does turn significantly from how it might have transpired in the United States. Here, drug cops with a warrant wouldn’t be serving it during work hours; it would be late at night in the cover of darkness. Here they wouldn’t be calling the homeowner and waiting for her arrival having only cut a padlock; they would have knocked, announced, and beat down the door and rushed inside with automatic weapons drawn. Here they wouldn’t have spoken with the elderly mother; they would have forced her to the ground and cuffed her.

      And most likely after discovering they’d burst into a guinea pig incubator, they wouldn’t do this:

      Last night Mrs Hardcastle said a senior officer had visited to apologise in person and brought a new lock for her neighbour’s gate.

    • 2 years ago
  • EmperorThan
  • toyotabedzrock
    • +3
      toyotabedzrock  

    • I dislike drugs but the following statement is completely absurd.

      "However, I would point out that these tactics are essential in tackling drugs across the district."

      If they are using a helicopter to find people growing a small amount of weed that is an enormous waste of money.

      I like that they are out searching but lets get a grip on reality.

    • 2 years ago
  • EmperorThan
    • +1
      EmperorThan  
    • toyotabedzrock:

      AGREED! We'll waste more money and resources (helicopters) trying to prevent people from putting things in their own bodies rather than putting that money toward preventing heart disease or having more helicopter's to save lives of people with LifeFlight first aid. Something that will actually help communities.

    • 2 years ago
  • Nephwrack
  • toyotabedzrock
  • lionessgrrl
  • EmperorThan
  • bundlebear
  • themotivateddropout
  • Incredulous
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