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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Drugs chief says soft line is risk to children
Stewart Tendler The Times
Saturday 11 May 2002 THE leading drugs investigator at Scotland Yard warned yesterday that the Brixton experiment on liberalising cannabis prosecutions was flawed. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Mike Fuller, head of the Yard's drugs directorate, said that the experiment in the Lambeth area of South London had left members of the public thinking cannabis had been legalised and risked encouraging children into drug use. Under the experiment launched last year by Commander Brian Paddick, the outspoken officer, users found with small amounts of cannabis had their drugs confiscated and received an informal warning. Mr Fuller said that one vicar in Brixton has complained to police that children were arriving at school in the morning 'stoned' on cannabis, and parents were concerned that liberalisation would lead to the use of hard drugs. The Yard's evaluation of the Lambeth scheme found that 450 warnings were issued between July and December last year. Police did not cut back on dealing with possession cases. The numbers were a 35 per cent increase on people cautioned or prosecuted in the same period of 2000. The experiment saved 1,350 hours of police work, which was equal to putting two extra officers on the streets full-time. The experiment also saved another 1,150 hours of civilian work which would have gone into processing cases. One of the aims was to concentrate police operations on heroin and cocaine offences, but there was not enough evidence to show whether the scheme made a difference. Mr Fuller, writing in this week's edition of Police Review, acknowledged that the experiment had improved relations between the police and the community on the streets, but said there was a danger that children were being encouraged to try cannabis and were confused by the policy. 'Our school officers report that children feel that the police are sending mixed messages to young people by on the one hand trying to deter young people from abusing and experimenting with drugs, and yet appearing hypocritical by not strictly enforcing the drug laws,' he wrote. Mr Fuller said that positive publicity surrounding the experiment had masked the dangers it created. The experiment was intended to save police time, but Mr Fuller said it had raised interest in opening cannabis cafes. He said: 'These remain illegal, and if such a proliferation occured it would negate any time saved . . . as the service would have to devote significant resources to enforce the law.' Mr Fuller said that the experiment needed to run longer than six months and needed to be tested nationally. Lambeth was a unique area because of the profile of the community and the area. He said that a report on the scheme will be considered by David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, who is examining reducing the classification of cannabis from Class B in drugs legislation to Class C. Lambeth has the highest street crime rates in London and was given extra officers to fight muggings. The Yard feels that many of the officers freed by the policy used the extra time to carry out their normal duties, such as answering 999 calls.
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