Fire service ‘cannabis farm’ call-outs triple in a decade

House fires linked to the production of illegal cannabis have tripled since 2015, the insurer Zurich has reported.

Data obtained from 21 fire and rescue services revealed a sharp rise from 17 reported incidents in 2015 to 50 suspected or identified cannabis farm fires in 2025.

Since 2022, Zurich has investigated 17 cannabis farm-related claims from landlords with a combined value of £9.4m.

‘Hiding in plain sight’

Scott Clayton, Head of Claims Fraud for Zurich UK, said: “Many landlords still picture cannabis farms operating in remote industrial estates or hidden warehouses.

“What we’re increasingly seeing is organised criminal groups targeting empty shops, offices and retail premises, often hiding in plain sight on high streets across the UK.”

The insurer noted that “fire is often only one part of a much larger problem. We’ve seen claims involving dangerous electrical alterations, extensive water damage from irrigation systems, widespread damp and mould, and significant structural changes made to conceal growing operations”.

Mini-mart drugs

Earlier this year, a BBC investigation found cocaine, cannabis and nitrous oxide for sale in mini-marts across four West Midlands towns.

Further analysis of news articles about criminal activity on UK high streets also revealed that drugs, including heroin, had been found in more than 70 shops and adjoining premises.

In response to the findings, Liam Byrne MP — chair of the Business and Trade Committee — said: “We can’t restore our High Streets unless we take out the cancer of organised crime”.

Drug crimes

The number of drug offences in England and Wales increased by almost a fifth last year to the highest level in over a decade.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), an estimated 230,783 drug-related incidents took place in 2025 — up from 195,613 in 2024.

Data used by the ONS revealed an unprecedented level of drug trafficking in 2025, with police recording 75,907 offences, a rise of 26 per cent from 2024. Drug possession offences also reached 154,876, two-thirds of which were for cannabis.