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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Giuliani criticises London's soft stance on cannabis
Ananova Thursday 14 Feb 2002 Rudolph Giuliani has delivered a damning verdict on a controversial scheme to relax police attitudes to cannabis in part of London. Hundreds of drug users have escaped prosecution since the scheme began but supporters say it has saved thousands of hours of police time. Asked about the Lambeth scheme, he said he would arrest anyone for possession of cannabis. The Metropolitan Police introduced a pilot scheme in Lambeth last July which meant anyone caught with small amounts of the drug would be dealt with by a caution rather than by arrest and prosecution. "Marijuana caused a lot of the violence we had," Mr Giuliani said. "I don't know if it's the same here but marijuana was a problem for us. I would encourage the police to arrest as many of them as possible." Former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik added that one of the worst crimes in New York recently, the Carnegie Delhi murders, were tied up with the drug. He said: "On May 10 we had one of the most heinous incidents in a long time in which three people were killed and two injured, people were shot in the head execution style. "It was all to do with marijuana - it is not a victimless crime, it leads to other bigger, more violent crimes. Anyone should be arrested for the use of marijuana." Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens defended the Met's position saying: "It is being independently assessed. Cannabis is not legalised, this is a pilot scheme and we will wait and see." He said the Met's recent crackdown in crime-ridden parts of London had seen 1,600 arrests and street crime down by up to 15%.
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