On Friday 13th November 2009, officers from Hoyland Safer Neighbourhood Team visited the home of 27-year-old Gavin Hodgkinson on Princess Street, Hoyland. A search of the property revealed four cannabis plants, around £3000 in cash and electricity being illegally abstracted.

Hodgkinson appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on 14June for a two-day trial where he was found guilty of abstracting electricity and possession of cannabis. He was sentenced to 24 weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months and 100 hours of unpaid work.

On 2 December 2009, another raid by the SNT found six cannabis plants at the home address of 33-year-old Stephen Milner on King Street, Hoyland. After appearing at Sheffield Crown Court on 16June, he was found guilty of production of cannabis with intent to supply and sentenced to nine months imprisonment.

Since the start of January, Hoyland SNT has seized 63 plants from eight addresses in the area, that’s an estimated value of £21,000. A further £900 worth of cannabis has been retrieved from stop searches.

Sergeant Darren Taylor said: “We were able to bring these two men to justice thanks to the help of information provided to us by members of the public. Working in partnership with the local community allows us to tackle drug activity in the area and in turn, make our area safer.

“We ask members of the public to report any suspicions they might have to police - anonymously if they like - and help us remove more drugs off the streets of Hoyland.”