Police have introduced new tactics designed to cripple cannabis factories in Barnsley after realising virtually all are based in privately rented houses.

Although still in its early days, the idea is proving so successful it could be rolled out across the entire South Yorkshire force.

According to police, when criminals set up a cannabis factory in a rented house, the repair bill can often be between £5,000 and £10,000.

Often criminals hack into the power supply and make other changes to allow them to grow plants using artificial light and heat

When police find growing operations the cost of their investigation can also be significant, with an estimate of between 50 and 80 hours of police time needed, at a cost of up to £2,000 for a 'typical' 12 plant 'farm'.

There is also a risk of fire, with three per cent of house fires now linked to cannabis growing.

Police also believe there are direct links between cannabis cultivation and serious assaults, a result of disputes between criminals and 'taxing' offences.

As a result PC Paul Davies drew up a plan which involved equipping landlords with the knowledge they need to make regular checks on suspect properties - under a time frame shorter than the growing cycle of cannabis plants.

A report to South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings said: "By encouraging private sector rental operators to sign up to an awareness scheme and conduct regular checks, it would deter criminal groups and identify those providers who engage in or wilfully ignore such activity.

"Paul is working with Barnsley Council and private sector providers to get them signed up to the scheme, introduce more checks and scrutiny.

"This scheme is still at its inception, but has been identified by the force as having the potential to roll out forcewide."

Assaults which police categorise as 'most serious violence' have spiked in Barnsley recently after numbers fell during coronavirus lockdown.

Police say "a number are linked to potential drug taxings".

Dr Billings' report states the new Cannabis Grow scheme "should assist in reducing the number of connected MSV incidents."