Source: Hull Daily Mail, UK

Pub date: Monday, 20 May 2002

Pub LTE: Drug Legislation Wastes Police Time

Author: Carl Wagner

DRUG LEGISLATION WASTES POLICE TIME

Research involving 150 frontline patrol officers who carry out stop-and-search operations for drugs has revealed that half of them have admitted using cannabis, and that many support a more liberal approach.

More than half also believed that cannabis legislation harmed relations between police and young people, and it was said that those arrested for possession were less likely to help the police to solve more serious crimes.

Recent Home Office figures show that 99 per cent of drug-related crime affecting the community stems from heroin and crack cocaine addiction, and yet 70 per cent of police time deals with cannabis offences.

The cannabis laws are unenforceable and polls show the public don't want them enforcing.

If present policy is to continue, the people of Hull deserve to know why it's appropriate to prosecute cannabis smokers instead of using valuable resources and police time to catch drunken thugs, violent criminals and muggers.

Carl Wagner
Victoria Square
Ella street
Hull