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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Police chief praises cannabis pilot
ePolitix
Friday 15 Mar 2002 A pilot scheme by London police to caution cannabis users informally has been hailed as a success by the authority's chief. Commander Brian Paddick, whose outspoken views caused controversy earlier this month, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that the measure had freed up officers in the borough of Lambeth to deal with dealers and hard drug users. "There has been a considerable saving of police time," he said. "There has been an increase in the arrest of people for dealing in hard drugs as a consequence, and I am very pleased with the results." "It is not about any sort of moral stance on cannabis, it is not about approving of cannabis. It is about concentrating scarce police resources on those drugs that cause most harm and they are crack cocaine and heroine." A spokesman for the charity Drugscope told ePolitix that they supported Paddick's initiative. "What we are hoping is that the government will make decisions on a national level and not continue this postcode lottery," he said. However, speaking to ePolitix.com, former shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe said his comments revealed an insufficient number of police officers. "I think it is the wrong answer. It is right to concentrate on hard drug dealing, but just as when conducting a murder inquiry you don't ignore burglaries, you don't ignore softer drugs," she said.
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