Pubdate: Thu, 23 May 2002
Source: Independent  (UK)
Copyright: 2002 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.independent.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/209
Author: Jason Bennetto, Crime Correspondent
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

BLUNKETT WARNED OVER 'SOFTLY SOFTLY' APPROACH ON CANNABIS

The Lambeth experiment in liberalising the response to cannabis possession 
will lead to more schoolchildren smoking the illegal substance, Scotland 
Yard's most senior drugs officer has told the Government.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Mike Fuller, the head of the Metropolitan 
Police's drugs directorate, has written to the Home Secretary to tell him 
that drug dealers and users are being attracted to the south London borough 
because of the "softly softly" approach.

David Blunkett is expected to announce that cannabis will be reclassified 
from a class B to a class C drug, making possession for personal use a 
non-arrestable offence. Since July last year people caught in Lambeth in 
possession of a small quantity of cannabis have been let off with a warning 
rather than being arrested. Police chiefs elsewhere in the country are 
drawing up plans for further pilot schemes.

The decision to take a more liberal approach is supported by 
recommendations in two recent reports, including one from the House of 
Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, published yesterday. But Mr Blunkett 
has said he will consider the results of the Lambeth experiment before 
relaxing the law on cannabis.

Mr Fuller sent a report, Evaluation of the London Borough of Lambeth 
Cannabis Pilot Warning Scheme, to Mr Blunkett last month. It said the pilot 
scheme had created a number of anti-social problems. "I think we will get 
more young people using and experimenting with cannabis," he told The 
Independent.

He said that since the pilot scheme had begun, the police had found a 
greater number of drug dealers and cannabis users coming into the borough. 
"We have been very cautious of whether it [the trial] has been a success or 
not. There seems to be a very negative consequence in terms of the social 
impact that greater liberalisation has had. "A lot of parents of teenagers 
are particularly worried. It's about how do teenagers make informed 
choices. If you are going to have what appears to be a more relaxed police 
[approach] you need safeguards for young people." The scheme has saved 
police officers time by freeing them from the lengthy arrest procedures. 
That is almost enough time to have two extra officers on the beat. Mr 
Fuller said that the force had used the time to respond to emergency calls 
and not, as widely reported, to pursue heroin and cocaine dealers.

The Association of Chief Police Officers and the Met are drawing up plans 
for pilot projects before Mr Blunkett's announcement on liberalising 
cannabis laws, which is expected before the end of July. Police chiefs 
envisage a graded response in which some individuals caught with cannabis - 
such as teenagers, motorists and people causing trouble - will face 
prosecution via a summons, while others will be let off with a warning.
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