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UK: Cannabis cafe visit for police

The BBC

Thursday 06 Jun 2002

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North Wales Police drugs squad officers have travelled to Amsterdam to find
out how their Dutch counterparts deal with the issue of drugs possession.

The move comes as a businessman plans to open a Dutch-style cannabis cafe
in Rhyl.

Force chief constable Richard Brunstrom earlier called for a fresh debate
on the drugs laws, but has also vowed to close down the proposed cafe.

Despite Home Office proposals to reclassify cannabis as a class C - rather
than class B - drug in the UK, Dutch laws are even more liberal.

Cannabis can be bought in many coffee shops in Amsterdam, where possession
of the drug for personal use has been tolerated for years.

Concentrate efforts

Speaking on the fact-finding mission in Amsterdam North Wales Police
Sergeant, Dewi Roberts, said: "It is very complicated what they are doing
here.

"It is not legal as such but it is tolerated by police and if any of the
conditions of the licence are broken they are punished quite heavily."

It is estimated the Dutch capital is home to more than 250 coffee shops,
with some also to be found in smaller towns and cities.

Senior police officers in Amsterdam believe the coffee shop system works,
allowing them to concentrate their efforts on tackling hard drugs.

However, the new centre-right Dutch Government has expressed unease about
the country's reputation as a haven for drug users.

Conversely, police in the UK have been relaxing their attitude to those in
possession of small amounts of cannabis.

A pilot scheme has been carried out in Lambeth, south London, where people
found in possession of small amounts of cannabis were cautioned rather than
arrested.

Mr Brunstrom has gone further, suggesting the legalisation of drugs in
recognition of the impossibility of enforcing their prohibition.

'Serious offence'

However, he has insisted he remains obliged to enforce the law as it stands.

Mr Brunstrom said: "Using premises to supply drugs is a serious offence and
we will have to deal with that."

While the UK authorities contemplate a more lenient approach to drug use,
flagrant breaches of the existing laws are not being tolerated.

In May, a row broke out after a businessman set up a website bearing the
name of North Wales Police to advertise his plans for a cannabis cafe in Rhyl.

Jeff Ditchfield, 42, from Henllan in Denbighshire, said he bought the
domain name - for £12.99 to try to open a "sensible debate with police".

Senior officers warned him not to use the site for illegal means and said
they would act if the law was broken.

Police have already raided two Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes which opened
in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and Bournemouth, Dorset.

But despite a number of arrests, both premises remain open.

Pro-drugs campaigners say they are the first of 13 cannabis cafes they plan
to open nationwide.

In addition to the shop planned for Rhyl, another is proposed for Anglesey,
north Wales.

 

 

 

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