More than 600 cannabis plants have been found at a premises in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, and a man has been arrested, according to Durham Constabulary. The discovery was first reported by ChronicleLive.

Neighbourhood policing officers dismantled the cannabis grow on Front Street on 1 October 2026. The force released images showing the plants that were found.

Arrest on suspicion of three offences

A man was arrested by the force’s response team on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis, dangerous driving and failing to stop. The reports do not say how the driving offences relate to the cannabis find, and police have not given further details of the circumstances.

He has not been named, and the reports do not say that anyone has been charged. An arrest on suspicion does not mean a person has committed an offence, and there is no suggestion of guilt at this stage. Durham Constabulary has not said whether he has been released or bailed, or what happens next in the investigation.

What police said

A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said cannabis grows are "directly linked to organised crime groups, human trafficking and present a risk to the general public". The spokesperson added that electricity supplies are usually bypassed, causing damage to properties and making them "incredibly dangerous".

The force said: "Together, we can help tackle drug-related activity and keep our communities safe."

The statement did not say whether any evidence of organised crime or trafficking had been found at the Front Street address. It describes the force’s general concerns about cannabis cultivation rather than findings specific to this case.

Background

Cannabis is a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and growing it without a licence is a criminal offence in the UK. Police forces across England and Wales regularly report finding commercial-scale grows in houses, shops and industrial units. Bypassing a property’s electricity supply, as Durham Constabulary described, can create a risk of fire and electric shock.

The legal position of medical cannabis is separate. Specialist doctors have been able to prescribe cannabis-based medicines since 1 November 2018, but that has no bearing on illegal cultivation of the kind police describe here.

Anyone with information about suspected cannabis cultivation can pass it to their local police force or to the independent charity Crimestoppers. Durham Constabulary has not said whether it is appealing for witnesses in this case.

Further updates are likely only if the man is charged or if the force releases more information about the investigation.