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Posted by : WebMaster
on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 03:22 AM EST |
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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