Pubdate: Fri, 14 Dec 2007
Source: Daily Mail (UK)
Copyright: 2007 Associated Newspapers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/108

DUTCH POLICE COMPLAIN IT IS THEIR RIGHT TO SMOKE  CANNABIS WHILE
OFF-DUTY

Police in Amsterdam are complaining at new rules that  ban them for
smoking cannabis while off-duty.

Officers have been told they need to set a good example  to the public
in the Dutch capital famous for its  liberal drugs laws and red light
district.

Amsterdam's police council chairman Frank Gittay said:  "Until now
police were only banned from showing up for  work stoned or drunk.

"But now we are telling officers they should also  behave like the
police at all times, and that means not  taking drugs and not getting
excessively drunk whether  on of off duty."

But Dutch Police Union chairman Hans van Duijn said the  new rules
were an infringement of personal liberty.

He said: "Many of our members are opposed to this.

"They are not paid for 24-hours a day so what they do  in their free
time should be up to them."
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath