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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Met to try a softer line on cannabis
Guardian
Wednesday 28 Mar 2001 Met to try a softer line on cannabis Nick Hopkins, crime correspondent Wednesday March 28, 2001 The Metropolitan police may become the first force in the country to officially relax its attitude towards cannabis possession, after a decision to pursue a radical policy in a London hotspot for drugs. Working within discretionary powers given by the Home Office, the borough commander for Lambeth, Brian Paddick, has drawn up proposals to issue warnings to people caught with cannabis, rather than automatically making arrests and, in some cases, bringing charges. Although the policy will affect only one borough, which includes Brixton, the Met commissioner, Sir John Stevens, is watching with interest to gauge public reaction. He is known to be sympathetic to initiatives that give officers more freedom to tackle serious crime. If the scheme is a success other areas might follow suit. Commander Paddick said yesterday the proposal did not mean cannabis was being legalised. The idea was to free his officers from spending hours mopping up minor drugs offences when they needed time to tackle the "cancer" of crack cocaine-related crime. "I've never met anyone who had to commit crime to fund a cannabis habit, but crack cocaine users commit robbery, burglary and car crime." He said he was not soft on cannabis use. "That completely misrepresents what we want to do. We believe this policy will continue to deter people buying cannabis on the streets, as they will still lose even small amounts of cannabis in their possession. The person has to accept the warning, [or] be arrested." It takes two officers up to five hours to process a cannabis possession arrest. "With the new policy, we can deal with a similar matter in 10 minutes," said Cdr Paddick. His proposal has been forwarded to the community police consultative group in Lambeth. Jennifer Douglas, its chairwoman, said: "It is a brave idea, and it is a good idea. There is a need for a new drugs strategy."
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