A former London police station has been turned into a cannabis factory just five months after being sold.
The Metropolitan Police was called to one of its former bases on the Isle of Dogs on Sunday over concerns it was being used to grow the drug.
The station, on Manchester Road in the borough of Tower Hamlets, was sold to a private company in February this year.
When officers arrived there on Sunday, they found a “large” cannabis factory and set up a crime scene at the site.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, Conservative councillor Peter Golds said: “Two years ago we found a cannabis factory in a school in the borough and now this.
“We have said for years there are problems with antisocial behaviour in Tower Hamlets, but we have continued to see police stations close down.
“We only have one proper station in Bethnal Green left.”
London and Surrey fires live: Blazes described as ‘weather related’; people urged to close windows and doors; crews make progress in Hayes and Enfield
Blown-out windows, walls cracked in extreme heat: Images show rubble as cordon lifted in Wennington – but some residents are still away on holiday and haven’t seen remains
Man arrested over fatal stabbing in west London pub
In documents from the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s office, the case for closing and selling the Isle of Dogs police station said it had no “public access function”.
Some 16 similar stations were slated for closure and disposal to raise money for the force in the 2021-2022 period.
A spokesperson for the Met said: “On Sunday 24 July officers from Central East BCU were alerted to a potential cannabis factory at the former Isle of Dogs Police Station on Manchester Road, E14.
“On arrival a large cannabis factory was found which is currently a crime scene with officers at the location. There has been no arrest and the investigation is ongoing.
“The Isle of Dogs police station was sold to a private company on 25 February 2022 and is no longer Metropolitan Police Service property.”
