MORE than £340,000 worth of cannabis was taken off the streets of the borough in 2012, figures have revealed.

Statistics released to the under the Freedom of Information Act also show the number of cannabis farms being discovered by police has risen by more than one-third since 2011.

In 2012, 31 cannabis cultivations worth £340,290 were found in the borough – an increase of 32 per cent from the 21 farms uncovered the year before.

In 2011, the farms police unearthed were also smaller, with their total value estimated at £139,670 — less than half 2012’s total.

Superintendent Mark Granby, of Bury Division, said: “The organisation around the cultivation of cannabis in Bury reflects the trends being seen nationally.

“Organised criminals continue to use commercial premises on a factory farming type of model, and we have been successful in our operations around closing down that activity.

“However, we have also seen an increase in smaller scale cultivation taking place in domestic premises, both as part of organised criminal activity and for personal use.” So far in 2013, cannabis with a combined worth of £23,460 has been discovered growing in locations in Sedgley Park, Bury and Radcliffe.

In 2012, 14 of the cannabis farms unearthed by police were found in Bury — almost half of the total number discovered.

Supt Granby said officers in the borough’s neighbourhood teams have been successful in disrupting this type of activity.

“The figures indicate the success we have had in dismantling these operations,” he said.

“My concern is the violent activity that accompanies cultivation of cannabis, as we see rival groups stealing the harvest of other criminals.

“There is a mistaken belief that the cannabis market does not share the violence that goes hand in hand with Class A drug markets, but in reality the supply of cannabis brings with it risks of violent crime and disruption to our communities.”

In March, 2012, a raid on flat above a shop on Bury New Road, Whitefield, took more than £50,000 worth of drugs off the street when more than 200 cannabis plants were found.

Supt Granby also said medical evidence indicates the risks of long-term psychological damage cannabis use can cause.

“We will continue to focus on this area of criminality and to act on intelligence given to us,” he added.