The municipality of Lingewaard is going to use a new tool in the fight against illegal hemp cultivation: a thermal imaging camera. Growing hemp releases a lot of heat. This becomes visible with the camera.

Lingewaard is one of the first municipalities in the region to deploy thermal imaging cameras for this purpose. But even at the front, this municipality is doing everything it can to prevent illegal practices; Lingewaard says it is the only municipality in the region that, when selling its own business plots, has it contractually laid down that no illegal activities, such as hemp cultivation, may take place in the premises. Thus, Lingewaard says it is working to create a climate for purely bona fide entrepreneurs.

Liable
At a meeting last week, landlords were given tips that can help them find a reliable tenant. The thermal imaging camera helps landlords keep an intermediate view of what is happening in their premises. The municipality provides the camera.
Hemp plantations are illegal and pose a great danger to residents and neighbours, especially fire hazards from tampering with or overloading the power supply. The landlord - not the tenant - is liable for the consequences if a fire starts in one of their premises due to a hemp plantation; the landlord pays for the damage and becomes a defendant in a criminal investigation.

Source: Securitynews.co.uk dated 11-07 2018