Wirral Police Seize 850-Plant Cannabis Farm 2026

Key Points

• A targeted day of action took place in Wirral on Friday, 11 September 2026 by the Merseyside Police along with other agencies in Rock Ferry and New Ferry.
• The police raided a cannabis farm that had over 850 plants in a house on Bebington Road.
• A total of seven people were arrested for crimes such as commercial burglary, theft, fraud, drug driving and recall to prison in Rock Ferry, New Ferry and Birkenhead.
• Neighbourhood policing teams, specialist officers, Wirral Council’s Community Safety Team, Trading Standards, Merseyrail and HMRC were among those involved in the action.
• There were statements made by Chief Inspector Colin Dyer and Wirral Council’s Cllr Jenny Johnson stating that crime and anti-social behavior will continue to be targeted.
• Scottish Power attended the address on Bebington Road to ensure the safety of the property after the discovery of the cannabis farm.

Wirral Council (Liverpool standard) September 11, 2026 – A major multi-agency operation targeting crime and anti-social behaviour in Wirral has resulted in seven arrests and the discovery of a large cannabis farm with more than 850 plants, police and council officials have confirmed.

What happened during the Merseyside crime crackdown in Wirral?

Merseyside Police and partner agencies carried out a targeted day of action in Wirral on Friday, 11 September, focusing on the communities of Rock Ferry and New Ferry in response to concerns about serious crime and anti-social behaviour. The activity was planned following information gathered through neighbourhood policing, community engagement, partner agencies and reports from members of the public, which identified a number of locations, individuals and issues requiring a coordinated and visible response.

Concerns raised included drug dealing, the exploitation of vulnerable people, serious violence, criminal damage, and wider anti-social behaviour issues, according to the operation summary provided by Merseyside Police. The operation brought together neighbourhood policing teams, specialist officers and partners including Wirral Council’s Community Safety Team, Trading Standards, Merseyrail, and HM Revenue and Customs.

The day of action combined crime prevention, safeguarding, enforcement and community engagement activity aimed at tackling those causing harm while providing reassurance to local residents and businesses. The operation began with early morning warrants targeting people suspected of involvement in organised crime, including drug supply and human trafficking.

How large was the cannabis farm found on Bebington Road?

From the warrant at a property on Bebington Road, officers found a large cannabis farm, comprising of more than 850 plants, across multiple floors. Scottish Power attended to make the property safe. Anyone who has seen suspicious activity or vehicles around the location is encouraged to come forward, police said.

The scale of the cultivation—more than 850 plants spread across multiple floors—indicates an industrial-level operation, consistent with other recent large cannabis farm discoveries in the region, including a warehouse in Liverpool city centre where more than 650 plants were found in October 2025. In that case, 21 men were charged after police discovered five growing rooms in the facility on Kitchen Street.

Who was arrested in the Wirral day of action?

During the day of action, officers made seven arrests, all within the areas of Rock Ferry, New Ferry, and Birkenhead. The arrests, as detailed by Merseyside Police and reported by Birkenhead News, were:

• A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of commercial burglary, possession of cash, controlled drugs, and an offensive weapon.
• A 33-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of theft and fraud offences.
• A 36-year-old wanted woman was arrested on recall to prison.
• A 23-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of retail theft.
• A 48-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of drug driving.
• A 41-year-old wanted man was arrested on recall to prison.

All seven individuals were arrested within the targeted areas, and the offences spanned property crime, fraud, drug-related driving and breach of prison recall conditions.

Which agencies took part in the Merseyside multi-agency operation?

The operation involved neighbourhood policing teams, specialist officers and partners including Wirral Council’s Community Safety Team, Trading Standards, Merseyrail, and HM Revenue and Customs. The day also involved working with partners from Merseyrail, conducting patrols and stop-search activity at local railway stations and on the rail network. This operation aimed to deter criminal behaviour, identify those involved in offending, and provide a visible presence to help passengers feel safe while travelling.

Officers also joined partners from Wirral Trading Standards and HMRC to carry out checks on vape and convenience stores, targeting the sale of illegal tobacco and vaping products. Throughout the day, the Mounted officers conducted high-visibility patrols in New Ferry and Rock Ferry to provide reassurance and engage with local communities.

What did police and council leaders say about the Wirral crackdown?

Chief Inspector Colin Dyer said,

“Today’s activity may have been focused on specific areas here on the Wirral, but it sends a clear message that we will continue to target those involved in crime and anti-social behaviour and protect the communities they affect.”

He added, “

We know issues such as drug dealing, violence and anti-social behaviour can have a real impact on people’s lives and their sense of safety. By working closely with our partners, we can tackle these problems more effectively and address the concerns that matter most to local residents.”

“The information and reports we receive from the public play a vital role in helping us take action. I would encourage anyone with information about criminal activity in their area to continue sharing it with us so we can keep disrupting crime and making our communities safer,”

Chief Inspector Dyer said, as reported by Birkenhead News.

Cllr Jenny Johnson, Chair of the Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee for Wirral Council, said, “Once again our hard-working officers have joined with counterparts in the police and other agencies to tackle people who are involved in activities that are harmful to our communities. I hope they soon get the message that they will be identified and targeted and their activities are not welcome in Wirral and will be stopped.”

How does this operation fit into wider Merseyside policing efforts?

The Wirral day of action aligns with a series of recent enforcement operations across Merseyside targeting organised crime, drug supply and anti-social behaviour. In March 2026, Merseyside Police arrested 237 individuals and dismantled 17 drug networks during a County Lines Intensification Week, as part of a national crackdown that saw more than 2,000 arrests and 335 lines shut down across the UK.

In north Liverpool, a significant enforcement operation in March 2026 led to 55 arrests following a sequence of raids involving about 300 police officers. In July 2026, more than 300 law enforcement personnel conducted operations aimed at individuals engaged in significant organized crime across Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley. These operations have repeatedly uncovered large cannabis farms, including more than 650 plants in a city centre warehouse in October 2025 and more than 340 plants in Kirkdale in December 2025.

Background to the development

Large-scale cannabis cultivation has become a recurring feature of organised crime in Merseyside, with police repeatedly dismantling industrial-level farms in residential and commercial properties. In October 2025, 21 men were charged after police found more than 650 plants across five growing rooms in a warehouse on Kitchen Street in Liverpool city centre. In December 2025, officers in Kirkdale seized over 340 cannabis plants from a farm spanning seven grow rooms on Delamore Street.

The Bebington Road discovery of more than 850 plants in September 2026 represents one of the larger seizures in the region in recent months, underscoring the continued use of multi-floor properties for high-volume cultivation. Police have increasingly paired drug warrants with partner agency involvement including council community safety teams, Trading Standards, HMRC and utility providers to address both the criminal networks and the associated risks such as electricity abstraction and fire hazards.

Prediction: how this development can affect local communities and policing

The discovery of a large cannabis farm and seven arrests in Wirral is likely to affect local communities and policing in several ways. For residents in Rock Ferry, New Ferry and surrounding areas, the visible multi-agency presence and public statements from police and council leaders may increase perceived safety and encourage further reporting of suspicious activity. However, the scale of the cultivation more than 850 plants—also highlights the embedded nature of drug production in residential areas, which can sustain local supply and associated anti-social behaviour.

For policing, operations of this kind reinforce the need for continued intelligence-led warrants, partnership working and community engagement to disrupt organised crime groups that repeatedly re-establish cultivation sites. If similar multi-agency days of action are repeated, they could lead to more arrests, further seizures and greater disruption of drug networks, but they also require sustained resources and public cooperation to maintain momentum.