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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Police clamp down on cannabis picnic
The News, Portsmouth Monday 14 Aug 2000 Source: The News, Portsmouth Date: Monday Aug 14, 2000 POLICE CLAMP DOWN ON CANNABIS PICNIC Police clamped down on the annual Smokey Bears picnic on Southsea Common by detaining 20 pro-cannabis protesters. Officers used sniffer dogs for the first time to track down traces of the drug. One man was charged with possession after he refused a caution, while others - including a 15-year-old - were cautioned or reprimanded. Page two; SOUTHSEA: SNIFFER DOG USED AT COMMON GATHERING POLICE DEFEND TACTICS AT CANNABIS-PROTEST PICNIC Police today defended their tactics after detaining 20 pro-cannabis protesters amid angry scenes on Southsea Common. For the first time in the seven-year history of the Smokey Bears picnic, officers used a sniffer dog to target campaigners among the crowd of up to 300. Some of those led away from the demonstration to be questioned and searched in police vans later condemned the move. Joe, 28, said: 'I stroked the dog and for that reason they detained me. 'I don't smoke any drugs but I spent 10 minutes inside a police van whether I voted.' Another protester, Phil Stovell, was detained and later released after police accepted he was wearing clothes made from hemp - the plant from which cannabis is also extracted. 'I did have a little lump of Oxo but I let them keep it,' said the 46-year-old from Petersfield. A total of 50 officers were drafted in to police the picnic, yesterday, which was organised to promote calls for the use of cannabis to be legalised. Jonathan Neil, 36, of Windcliffe Road, Southsea, was arrested and charged last night with possession of drugs and a public order offence. Police said that he had turned down the offer of a caution. He was bailed to appear before Portsmouth magistrates on Wednesday. Officers also cautioned an 18 year old Gosport man for public disorder, a 19-year-old Southsea man for possession of drugs and public disorder, a man of 19 from Dorset for possession and a boy of 15 from Havant was reprimanded for possession. Police spokeswoman Susan Rolling, today defended what she described as the robust police action. She said: 'The sniffer dog has the ability to detect the use of illegal substances in the previous 48 hours. 'Therefore the dog targeted a number of people who weren't in possession of drugs, but may have used them in the previous four days.' 'When these people were found not to be in possession of drugs they were immediately released.' She added: 'Anyone who wore hemp trousers in an effort to confuse our sniffer dog should not have been surprised to be temporarily detained.' OFFICERS MAKE ARRESTS AT 'PEACEFUL' EVENT Six police vans were parked around Southsea Common on Sunday. The trickle of demonstrators grew into a crowd of 300 about an hour after the picnic began at 2pm. Last year police clamped down hard on pro-drug protesters. They arrested 30 people for possessing cannabis at the rally on the Common. Two people were then also arrested for public order offences, two for assault, two for criminal damage, two for being drunk, and one for assaulting police. Hampshire police force spokeswoman Susan Rolling said that yesterday's operation was designed to deal with upholding city council by laws as well as the criminal law. She added: 'On the whole it was a peaceful event.'
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