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UK: Cannabis trial stubbed out

BBC News Online

Wednesday 24 Jul 2002

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Police who ran the "softly, softly" approach to cannabis possession in a
London borough will arrest people who smoke the drug in public from next
week.
Lambeth police are launching an advertising campaign to mark the end of
their year-long pilot scheme.

The trial - where people with small amounts of cannabis were warned
rather than arrested - is due to end on 31 July.

This campaign follows Home Secretary David Blunkett's announcement that
cannabis would be downgraded from a Class B to a Class C drug.

It has been argued that there has been public confusion over drugs
policy following Mr Blunkett's announcement.

'Safe haven'

Officers in Lambeth will make arrests for personal cannabis possession
if they fear disorder, if the drug is smoked openly, or if it is found
on anyone under 17 - in line with national policy.

It has been claimed that some cannabis smokers have regarded Lambeth as
a "safe haven" for smoking the drug.

Leaflets in different languages will be handed out and posters will be
put in pubs and clubs.

Lambeth Acting Borough Commander Brian Moore said: "The aim of this
campaign is to clearly explain to everyone in Lambeth that cannabis is
illegal and will remain illegal".

From 1 August cannabis would be seized and formal warnings issued, he
said.

"Where aggravating circumstances apply, officers will be able to
exercise discretion over whether to arrest," the officer added.

There have been claims of people being drawn into Lambeth to buy and
sell cannabis because of the scheme.

More than 1,000 people have been warned for possession since the scheme
began last July.

Of those, 52.7% were from outside the borough, a similar proportion to
those caught in possession before the pilot, suggesting people were not
flooding into the area to buy drugs, said police.


 

 

 

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