A QUICK-thinking Havering police community support officer sniffed out a cannabis factory.

PCSO Carl Simonovitch was on patrol around his patch in the Squirrels Heath ward when he spotted a man behaving suspiciously close to a car known to be involved in drug supply.

He kept the suspect under observation, and waited for back-up from constables from his Safer Neighbourhood Team. They then moved in and found the man carrying a number of wraps of cannabis.

And during a search of an address in Station Road, Gidea Park they obtained from him, the officers uncovered a factory on December 17, complete with hydroponic growing equipment in a house where the drug “farmers” were abstracting electricity illegally.

Sgt Jim Cullen praised the work of his team and said: “This was an excellent example of pro-active policing and the effective team work by officers supporting PCSO colleagues led to the arrest of three suspects. I am very proud of the good work by all those involved.”

One man was cautioned for possession of cannabis and two were bailed to return to a police station pending further inquiries.