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UK: Warning to drug users as cannabis pilot ends
Nino Williams Streatham Guardian
Wednesday 31 Jul 2002 Police are warning cannabis smokers in Lambeth they will be arrested for possession of the drug with the end of the year-long softly-softly' experiment. The pilot scheme has allowed people within the borough possessing the drug to be let off with just a caution by police, but it officially came to an end yesterday. Officers have now been instructed to arrest people for personal possession of cannabis if it is being smoked in a public place. They will also make an arrest if they fear disorder or if anyone aged 17 or under is caught in possession. Lambeth Acting Borough Commander Brian Moore said: "The aim of this campaign is to clearly explain to everyone in Lambeth cannabis is illegal and will remain illegal. "The new rules are adjustments to the cannabis warning scheme which means from August 1, cannabis will still be seized and formal warnings issues. However, where aggravating circumstances apply, officers will be able to exercise discretion over whether to arrest." The project was originally introduced to Lambeth by former Borough Commander Brian Paddick, with the intention of freeing up police resources to tackle problems associated with hard drugs such as crack cocaine. Since it was introduced last year more than 1,000 people have been warned for possession of the drug. However, debate has raged over how successful the pilot has been, with many sources arguing that Lambeth, and in particular Brixton, has become a magnet for drug takers. Home Secretary David Blunkett recently announced that the drug is to be downgraded from class B to class C sometime next year, effectively extending the pilot's approach across the county. Critics argue repealing the project in Lambeth until the drug is re-classified is likely to cause confusion over the status of cannabis and the police's policy towards it. Kate Hoey, MP for Vauxhall, said: "There's total confusion because people have never been clear about the pilot. It sent out a mixed message and confused the ordinary community police officer about what they can do. "In the drugs world Lambeth is known as the place to come for drugs because police were not taking drugs seriously. Now 30,000 pounds has been spent on this advertising campaign just to take us back to the way it was before the pilot." Police are launching a new advertising campaign within Lambeth which will include posters and leaflets being distributed in pubs and clubs highlighting the new police policy guidelines regarding cannabis.
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