Police raid former Worthing nightclub
Sussex Police have launched an investigation after discovering a "very large" quantity of cannabis plants inside the former Angels Bar and Club in Worthing. Officers were initially called to the High Street premises at approximately 12:20pm on August 21 following reports of electricity abstraction.
UK Power Network vehicles were seen at the site alongside police, a common occurrence in large-scale indoor cultivation cases where illegal bypasses are suspected. Two men, aged 39 and 43, both from Brighton, were arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and have been released under investigation.
The ongoing debate on enforcement
The incident highlights the continued focus of UK police forces on dismantling illicit grow operations. While these enforcement actions are presented as public safety measures, critics of the current prohibitionist model argue that such raids do little to address the underlying demand for cannabis.
Advocates for reform suggest that a regulated, legal market would eliminate the need for such clandestine operations, which often involve dangerous electrical tampering and links to organised crime. By bringing the industry into the light, the government could ensure product safety, remove the criminal element, and generate significant tax revenue for the public purse.
Sussex Police have requested that anyone with information regarding the operation contact them online or via 101, quoting serial 703 of 21/08. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Source: The Argus
