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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Anger at Legal Aid for MEP
Manchester Online Monday 28 Oct 2002 EURO MP Chris Davies was today blasted for using the Legal Aid system to fund his pro-cannabis campaign - by a fellow politician who shares his views. Davies, who earns £55,000 representing the North West in the European Parliament, was fined £100 in Manchester yesterday for possessing cannabis at a rally last December that called for drug law reforms. The protest was part of his campaign for cannabis legalisation. The court heard that the MEP's defence costs from the time of his arrest at Stockport police station until a preliminary hearing in April were paid out of the taxpayer-funded Legal Aid scheme. That funding ended when Davies changed solicitors. It is estimated that it has cost the taxpayer about £10,000 to arrest, charge and bring him to court. The whole procedure took 105 police hours and led to a succession of court hearings before Davies pleaded guilty. The court judge ordered Davies to pay a total of £3,585 costs. Included in this is a £1,000 defence recovery cost, which is a contribution the judge ordered the MEP to make towards the Legal Aid he received. Even though he earns a salary higher than most of his constituents and has a home in the picturesque Saddleworth village of Greenfield, he was entitled to Legal Aid as he was arrested and charged by the police. Under the current system, everyone arrested by police is entitled to a Legal Aid solicitor, regardless of how wealthy they are. Brian Iddon, the Labour MP for Bolton South East, also supports calls for the legalisation of cannabis. But he was stunned that Mr Davies had taken Legal Aid cash. Mr Iddon said: "I am amazed that Chris Davies has even considered taking Legal Aid for this. There is clearly an anomaly in the system if it allows him to claim it. "It seems completely unfair that people wanting to appeal against conviction cannot obtain Legal Aid but Chris Davies can get it to fund what is basically a protest of his." Davies' arrest followed a protest outside Stockport police station where he brandished a 900mg piece of cannabis. Passing sentence on Davies and fellow protesting MEP Marco Cappato, who also admitted cannabis possession, Judge Stuart Fish criticised the "flagrant and provocative'' way they prompted their arrests to publicise their views on the drugs laws.
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