Pubdate: Thu, 29 Jan 2004
Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)
Copyright: 2004 Telegraph Group Limited
Contact:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/114
Authors: John Steele and Auslan Cramb
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

POLICE TO FOCUS ON CANNABIS 'HOTSPOTS'

Police forces will continue to launch zero tolerance operations
against the possession of cannabis, despite its legal downgrading, if
trading in the drug creates local law and order problems.

The legal change in the drug's status - from Class B to Class C - has
been accompanied by a presumption that adults caught in possession of
small amounts will lose the drugs but will not be arrested.

However, local police commanders could still arrest those in
possession at certain times to remove the market for suppliers
involved in violence and intimidation.

The retention of the power of arrest for cannabis possession - which
would ordinarily be lost for a Class C drug - was a key demand from
police chiefs when the Home Office announced it was considering
re-classification to allow police to concentrate on hard drugs such an
cocaine and heroin.

The Metropolitan Police made clear yesterday that it would continue to
arrest people for possession of cannabis in "hotspot" areas where
dealers are operating.

It has already used the tactic to tackle dealing activity in Landor
Road, Brixton.

Brixton, ironically, was the location of a controversial "softly
softly" experiment with cannabis by Brian Paddick, the police
commander in the area.

Yesterday Sir Ian Blair, the deputy Met Commissioner, confirmed at a
meeting of the Met police authority that the "zero tolerance" approach
might be possible in some areas, after consultation with local people
worried about crime.

Sir Ian expressed his support for the change in the drug's status in a
letter to The Times today. He wrote: "During the 30 years of my police
service, the policing of possession of small amounts of cannabis has
become increasingly pointless. It was grossly inefficient for officers
to spend hours processing individuals for the possession of cannabis
in amounts about which neither the courts nor therefore the CPS were
prepared to take any action.

Guidelines from the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) say
arrests should normally only be made in aggravated circumstances, such
as when juveniles are involved or in cases of smoking cannabis near
schools. Another exception, on which local "zero tolerance" operations
will be based, will be when cannabis creates "fear of public disorder"
or other crime problems.

Greater Manchester Police said: "At the discretion of an officer
somebody may be arrested for possession of cannabis if it is being
smoked in public view, if the person is a repeat offender, if there is
a local policing problem linked to cannabis use, or if the possession
of cannabis is close to a school or a youth club.

"We will not allow cannabis cafes. Arrests will be decided on whether
the smoking of cannabis is anti-social or blatant."

Insp John Holt, the head of the drug strategy unit at Avon and
Somerset Police, said: "Ordinarily an adult found in possession of a
small amount of cannabis for his or her own use would previously have
been arrested.

"Now an officer will give them a warning and the cannabis will be
seized."

Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Cannabis possession remains an
arrestable offence. That is the key message. However, officers will be
encouraged to use their discretion."

Andy Hayman, the Norfolk Chief Constable and head of Acpo's drugs
committee, said: "From a policing perspective on the street, it will
make no difference. For years, if someone got caught smoking a joint
on the street, officers have told them to stop doing it and
confiscated the drug without arresting them.

"Declassifying from a Class B to a Class C drug is just formalising an
existing informal arrangement."

West Midlands Police said they had altered their policy slightly to
remove a presumption that first-time offenders would be arrested, and
said that reclassification would focus their attention on harder
drugs. First-time offenders are likely to receive a caution and have
their drugs taken off them.

Bedfordshire Police said: "Sometimes an arrest is suitable, and there
are times when it is not. But our main message is that possession and
supply is still an offence." 
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