Pubdate: Fri, 15 Feb 2002
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2002 BBC
Contact: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/forum/
Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/558

GIULIANI CRITICISES DRUG STANCE

Rudolph Giuliani has criticised the "relaxed" attitude police in London 
have shown to cannabis saying the drug causes violence.

The former New York mayor delivered his verdict during a visit to the UK to 
receive an honorary knighthood.

Mr Giuliani's comments were made after he had been told about the pilot 
scheme in Lambeth, where users caught with small amounts of cannabis are 
avoiding prosecution.

However, the Metropolitan Police has defended the scheme by saying it was 
being constantly reviewed.

The Met introduced the pilot last July. Supporters say it has saved 
thousands of hours of police time.

Mr Giuliani is famed for his "broken windows" policy which helped to slash 
crime in New York by targeting small and anti-social offences.

Asked about the Lambeth scheme, he said he would arrest anyone for 
possession of cannabis.

"Marijuana caused a lot of the violence we had," he said.

"I would encourage the police to arrest as many of them [drug users] as 
possible."

Former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik added that one of the 
worst crimes in New York recently, the Carnegie Deli murders, were tied up 
with the drug.

He said: "We had one of the most heinous incidents in a long time in which 
three people were killed and two injured.

"People were shot in the head execution style.

'Magic solution'

"It was all to do with marijuana - it is not a victimless crime."

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens defended the policy: "It 
is being independently assessed.

"Cannabis is not legalised, this is a pilot scheme and we will wait and see."

Sir John welcomed news that both mayor Ken Livingstone and Home Secretary 
David Blunkett wanted to see the number of police officers in London rise 
to New York levels.

He said the Met's recent crackdown in crime-ridden parts of London had seen 
1,600 arrests and street crime down by up to 15%.

Mr Giuliani said: "Nobody has a magic solution to crime but there is no 
doubt the more police officers you have the more effective you can be."
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart