POLICE RELAX POLICY ON CANNABIS
Source: Eastern
Daily Press, UK
Pub Date: Friday,
12 September 2003
Section: Front Page
Subj: Police relax
policy on cannabis
Contact:
EDPLetters@archant.co.uk
Cited: Legalise
Cannabis Alliance http://www.lca-uk.org/
POLICE RELAX POLICY
ON CANNABIS
Police will
effectively turn a blind eye to people smoking cannabis at home to let officers
target dealers in heroin and crack cocaine, Norfolk's Chief Constable will
announce today.
People using the
drug in public view, those in possession of it near schools and youth clubs,
repeat offenders and those committing public disorder after taking it will
still face arrest under the guidelines to be unveiled nationally by Andy
Hayman.
While it will stay
an offence to have cannabis, the recommendations will say there should be a
"presumption against arrest", with warnings and cautions issued by
officers instead.
The guidelines –
more than a year after the Government proposed a reclassification of cannabis
from Class B to Class C – will be announced by Mr Hayman in his role as
chairman for the Association of Chief Police Officers' drugs sub-committee.
Mr Hayman yesterday
told the EDP the Cannabis Enforcement Guidance was a direct response to the
Government's desire for a "more liberal approach" towards cannabis
possession – but not dealing – to let forces concentrate their efforts on
heroin and crack.
It would still be
an offence to possess cannabis, he said, but people would not be arrested for
simple possession charges to prevent such minor offences taking up vital police
time. Officers would be expected to use their discretion and take the
circumstances into account.
"You can present
all sorts of different scenarios about when people might be arrested and we
could end up with a very interesting debate that goes nowhere," said Mr
Hayman.
In 2002-03, Norfolk
police seized more than 32kg of cannabis resin, 12kg of herbal cannabis and 687
plants. The amount of crack cocaine recovered rose to 674g in 2002-03 from
21.76g the previous year.
Mr Hayman said:
"Norfolk people should be reassured that we recognise the difference
between Class A drugs and those that cause less harm and that has been
demonstrated in the seizures."
Spokesman for the
Legalise Cannabis Alliance Don Barnard said it was "an illusion of
change" which did not address fundamentals like personal home use and in
the treatment of illness.