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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Force Rethinks Its Policy Over Drugs
S Peevers Evening Post, Bristol
Thursday 11 Jul 2002 Avon and Somerset Police force are reviewing their drugs policy after the announcement made by the Government yesterday. The Home Secretary, David Blunkett, said that from next year people will not be arrested for carrying cannabis for their own personal use. Will Marsh, spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police, said: "The force is considering the implications of this announcement and is reviewing the situation. "We have to make sure that every officer is crystal clear about what to do regarding this announcement. "Different areas require different approaches and officers need to use their discretion. "Our focus has been on catching people using class A drugs and we have had some success in Bristol and the force area with that policy. "So the force targeted their resources instead in trying to find the big dealers. "Avon and Somerset Police force have to just make sure that every officer is clear on the policy and that we are doing the same thing as everyone else." Under the announcement it will no longer be an offence to smoke cannabis in your own home. But people who are caught with enough cannabis to supply or deal the drug will still be arrested and will face up to ten years in prison. It will also be an offence to carry the drug near a school. Forces across the country are likely to face confusion over the implementation of the new policy. According to a report in a national newspaper, chief officers are concerned that forces are being left in limbo over how to deal with cannabis users, and that some will be tempted to introduce their own initiatives. The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) has been asked to draw up guidelines to make the new policy clear for every officer in the country, but it is not likely to report back until October. One senior police source told the national newspaper: "The concern is that there is no clear guidance over when a 'seize and warn' policy can be used. "What is accepted in Brixton might not be accepted in towns like Chelmsford." More radical changes to the cannabis laws must be considered to take control of the drug out of the hands of pushers, says an MP. Roger Berry, who represents Kingswood, said moves - announced yesterday - which mean cannabis smokers will no longer be arrested will fail to break the link with harder drugs. He again called for a Royal Commission to examine all UK drug laws - including possible full legalisation of cannabis. s.peevers@bepp.co.uk
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