Pubdate: Wed, 26 May 2004
Source: Scotsman (UK)
Copyright: The Scotsman Publications Ltd 2004
Contact:  http://www.scotsman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/406
Author: Nick Allen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

POLICE SUED OVER 'SOFTLY, SOFTLY' CANNABIS POICY

The Metropolitan Police is being sued over its "softly, softly" approach to
cannabis possession.

Papers have been lodged in the High Court claiming the controversial policy
- -- launched in Lambeth, south London, in July 2001 -- fuelled crime.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is also named in the
application lodged by Lambeth resident Patrick Strahan.

ACPO issued guidelines to the 43 police forces in England and Wales on when
to arrest and when not to arrest cannabis-users following recent
reclassification of the drug.

Under the "softly, softly" scheme brought in by Met Deputy Assistant
Commissioner Brian Paddick -- who was then Lambeth's police chief -- people
caught with small amounts of cannabis were given a formal warning rather
than being arrested and charged.

Hundreds of hours of police time were saved as a result, allowing police to
tackle street crime and harder drugs.

But opponents argued the experiment led to more drug dealers and users
moving into the area and a boom in "drug tourism".

Mr Strahan is suing Mr Paddick's successor, Chief Superintendent Dick Quinn,
over the effects of the policy.

The papers are likely to go before a judge soon who will decide whether
there is a case.

The "softly, softly" policy heralded the downgrading of cannabis from Class
B to Class C.

It was officially downgraded in January this year but police still retain
powers of arrest.

ACPO's guidelines say arrests should only be made in aggravated
circumstances, such as smoking a joint outside a school.

Police figures show there was a sharp increase in the number of people
caught with cannabis in Lambeth following the introduction of the
experiment.

And Met Commissioner Sir John Stevens admitted recently that he made a "big
mistake" only introducing the scheme in Lambeth, which he said became a
"goldfish bowl".

He said it should have been launched in several other London boroughs at the
same time.

A Met spokesman said: "We have been notified that a Brixton resident has
lodged an application with the court of judicial review regarding the
policing of cannabis possession in Lambeth.

"Solicitors acting on the resident's behalf informed the Metropolitan Police
and ACPO of the application on November 21, 2003.

"The matter has been referred to Metropolitan Police solicitors."
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MAP posted-by: Josh