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Norfolk police in tough approach on cannabis

Eastern Daily Press, Norfolk

Thursday 17 Feb 2000

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Norfolk police have one of the toughest records against cannabis users in the whole country, according to Home Office statistics.

But the figures also show alarming inconsistencies in the way different forces deal with offenders and suggest that policies on soft drug use differ from county to county.

Cannabis users caught in Norfolk are almost eight times more likely to be convicted of possession than if arrested in Northamptonshire where only seven per cent of those caught ended up with criminal records.

In Norfolk, 52 per cent of those arrested for cannabis use were convicted, whereas in Suffolk the number dropped to 36 per cent and in Cambridgeshire it was 35 per cent.

Such discrepancies also add to the apparent differences in opinion between Home Secretary Jack straw, who supports the hard line towards the use of the drug and the government drugs tsar Keith Hellawell who has a more pragmatic approach.

Speaking at yesterday's police authority meeting, Chief Constable Ken Williams said his force was committed to tackling all drug-related incidents. "We wouldn't target cannabis possession specifically."

* Pr-cannabis campaigners from around the country are to converge on Norwich next month for the first ever conference of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA).

LCA supporters will meet at Wensum Lodge on King Street on March 4 for the conference.

Norwich LCA supporter Jack Girling, who stood for Mancroft ward in local elections last year, said more than 100 LCA supporters had signed up to attend.

Cannabis possession prosecution figures:
Percentage of defendents convicted of possessing cannabis by police authority area:


Northamptonshire   7%

Cambridgeshire     35%

Suffolk            36%

Lincolnshire       44%

Norfolk            52%

Dorset             63%


 

 

 

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