|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
UK: Police confirm they do not target personal use of cannabis in Bristol Ian Onions Bristol Post Tuesday 26 Apr 2016 But they won't tolerate smoking cannabis in front of vulnerable people such as children or near schools and colleges. And they continue to crack down on the commercial production of the Class B drug in cannabis "factories". The Avon and Somerset police force's stance on cannabis has emerged following comments by Lib Dem mayoral candidate Kay Barnard who says she would like to see a "more relaxed approach" by the police towards cannabis if she was elected as Bristol's next mayor. Dr Barnard wants to foster a "more joined up approach" towards the housing crisis, tackling homelessness and helping the most vulnerable people in the city. To this end, she wants to "encourage a 'relaxed approach' to the policing of cannabis-related offences". In response, the police have re-issued a statement which says they have never targeted the personal use of cannabis "unless that use is in itself creating a more harmful situation and endangering vulnerable people (i.e. the smoking of cannabis around children or close to educational premises)." It goes on: "We do receive information from the public about suspected cannabis cultivation sites on a daily basis, so the growing of cannabis is clearly a concern for many within our communities. As the public would expect that intelligence is researched and when appropriate, a warrant is applied for and executed. "We do however target organised groups who are responsible for the supply and production of cannabis on a commercial scale and some of the tactics used by these groups can involve small grow sites consistent with 'personal use' "These sites are taken very seriously as they can often involve vulnerable people being forced to grow cannabis against their will." Although the police have confirmed they do not target the personal use of cannabis, it does not mean that people are never arrested or charged for possessing the drug. However, the number of arrests for possession fell dramatically last year compared with the previous five years. There were 776 arrests in 2015 compared with 1,128 in 2014, 1,544 in 2013 and 1,939 in 2012. The number of people charged with possession has also fallen. Last year, the total was 361 which compares with 508 in 2014, 730 in 2013 and 881 in 2012. The Lib Dems in Bristol have produced their own six-point mini-manifesto to highlight their priorities during the next four years. It includes a reference to relaxing the way in which cannabis-related offences are dealt with by the police. The Lib Dems say they want to "encourage a relaxed approach to the policing of cannabis-related offences in order to help increase police resources to catch those that deal in harder drugs and to fight serious and violent crime". Police confirm they do not target personal use of cannabis in Bristol By IanOnions | Posted: April 26, 2016 Personal cannabis use in Bristol is not targeted by police Personal cannabis use in Bristol is not targeted by police Comments (1) Bristol has long had a relaxed attitude towards cannabis use and now the police have confirmed they are not targeting the personal use of the drug. But they won't tolerate smoking cannabis in front of vulnerable people such as children or near schools and colleges. And they continue to crack down on the commercial production of the Class B drug in cannabis "factories". The Avon and Somerset police force's stance on cannabis has emerged following comments by Lib Dem mayoral candidate Kay Barnard who says she would like to see a "more relaxed approach" by the police towards cannabis if she was elected as Bristol's next mayor. Dr Barnard wants to foster a "more joined up approach" towards the housing crisis, tackling homelessness and helping the most vulnerable people in the city. To this end, she wants to "encourage a 'relaxed approach' to the policing of cannabis-related offences". In response, the police have re-issued a statement which says they have never targeted the personal use of cannabis "unless that use is in itself creating a more harmful situation and endangering vulnerable people (i.e. the smoking of cannabis around children or close to educational premises)." It goes on: "We do receive information from the public about suspected cannabis cultivation sites on a daily basis, so the growing of cannabis is clearly a concern for many within our communities. As the public would expect that intelligence is researched and when appropriate, a warrant is applied for and executed. "We do however target organised groups who are responsible for the supply and production of cannabis on a commercial scale and some of the tactics used by these groups can involve small grow sites consistent with 'personal use'. "These sites are taken very seriously as they can often involve vulnerable people being forced to grow cannabis against their will." Although the police have confirmed they do not target the personal use of cannabis, it does not mean that people are never arrested or charged for possessing the drug. However, the number of arrests for possession fell dramatically last year compared with the previous five years. There were 776 arrests in 2015 compared with 1,128 in 2014, 1,544 in 2013 and 1,939 in 2012. The number of people charged with possession has also fallen. Last year, the total was 361 which compares with 508 in 2014, 730 in 2013 and 881 in 2012. The Lib Dems in Bristol have produced their own six-point mini-manifesto to highlight their priorities during the next four years. It includes a reference to relaxing the way in which cannabis-related offences are dealt with by the police. The Lib Dems say they want to "encourage a relaxed approach to the policing of cannabis-related offences in order to help increase police resources to catch those that deal in harder drugs and to fight serious and violent crime". Becky Lockyer, a Lib Dem local election candidate standing in Bishopston and Ashley Down ward, added: "The local Lib Dems are putting forward sensible proposals that are based on evidence-based policy. "We want to ensure that in a time of squeezed police budgets that financial resources are not wasted on the unnecessary prosecution and imprisonment of users and addicts; the focus instead should be on getting addicts the treatment they need. Police in our city should concentrate their efforts on tackling serious and violent crime and those who deal in hard drugs." In the autumn last year, the Liberal Democrats set up an independent panel of experts to look at how a regulated, legalised cannabis market could work in the UK. Former Lib Dem London mayoral candidate and former Deputy Assistant Commissioner in the London Metropolitan Police Brian Paddick previously led a pilot scheme in Lambeth which effectively decriminalised possession of cannabis for personal use for a 12-month period. The Lib Dems say the pilot saved resources and enabled the police to deal more effectively with serious crime and led to crime rates falling significantly during the period. The party also says that cannabis users in County Durham who grow the drug for their own consumption will no longer be targeted by the police after the force declared the illegal activity was not a priority, effectively decriminalising its use. http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Police-confirm-target-personal-use-cannabis/story-29178643-detail/story.html
After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.
|
This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!