Scots coming to there senses

[notgail]

UK: Let Them Smoke Dope

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02.n1154.a11.html

Newshawk: JimmyG

Webpage: http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/page.cfm?...ll&siteid=86024

Pubdate: Sun, 23 Jun 2002

Source: Sunday Mail (UK)

Contact: mailbox@sundaymail.co.uk

Copyright: 2002 Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd.

Website: http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/

Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2260

Author: Derek Alexander

 

 

LET THEM SMOKE DOPE

 

Scots Police Forces Stop Arresting Cannabis Users

 

POLICE officers have been told not to arrest anyone caught with cannabis for personal use, the Sunday Mail can reveal.

 

All eight Scottish forces adopted the secret policy because they were wasting time arresting suspects with small amounts of the drug.

 

Last night a source close to Justice Minister Jim Wallace confirmed cannabis has effectively been decriminalised in secret.

 

Police have become frustrated after prosecutors binned 45,000 drug cases last year - one in five of all reported.

 

The source said: "There might not be a formal signed policy document from the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland but that doesn't mean the policy is not in place.

 

"In an ideal world, every crime would be properly investigated and prosecuted. But we have to live in the real world where the possession of cannabis is no longer seen as a law enforcement priority.

 

"It means that if you don't have a record and there are no other offences involved you would be incredibly unlucky to be prosecuted for possession of cannabis."

 

Last July, police in London adopted a "softly, softly" approach to cannabis possession, in an intiative sanctioned by the Home Office.

 

Officers in Lambeth were instructed not to arrest cannabis users with small amounts for personal use.

 

Local Metropolitan Police commander Brian Paddick was later suspended amid allegations that he had smoked cannabis, which he claimed were part of a smear campaign against him.

 

Cannabis is due to be downgraded from a Class B to a Class C drug by Home Secretary David Blunkett this summer.

 

That would reduce the penalties for cannabis offences but police officers will still be required to send a report to the procurator fiscal when someone is caught in possession of the drug, even if it is a small amount.

 

Yesterday, David Liddell, director of the Scottish Drugs Forum, said: "Officers in urban areas are changing their attitudes to the use of cannabis.

 

"This could be because of the overworked legal system, but also because they want to focus on drugs like heroin and cocaine.

 

"Perhaps officers in rural areas will still adopt a hardline to cannabis use, but we've certainly been told that officers in urban areas are more tolerant."

 

One senior police officer said: "As long as there's a public desire for us to prosecute people in possession of controlled substances - heroin, speed, ecstasy or cannabis - then the courts will be under huge pressure from the sheer volume of cases.

 

"The fact of the matter is that these cases are regularly being binned for administrative convenience because the courts can't handle the level of work being put to them."

 

Last year, Strathclyde Police, which covers around half the country, reported around 12,000 people to the fiscal for alleged possession of cannabis.

 

The total number of drugs-related cases, ranging from possession to trafficking of Class A drugs, to reach court in 2000 was 6500 - down a fifth from the peak of 8200 in 1997.

 

Joe Grant, general secretary of the Strathclyde Police Federation, said: "We're are frequently hearing from officers that they're concerned and frustrated that the procurator fiscal is marking case no proceedings to expedite their workload."

 

Tory Justice spokesman, Bill Aitken, said: "The use of cannabis is illegal. I find it deeply distressing that there should be, on the face of it, a back door approach to decriminalising drugs."

[Tom]

Tory Justice spokesman, Bill Aitken, said: "The use of cannabis is illegal. I find it deeply distressing that there should be, on the face of it, a back door approach to decriminalising drugs."

 

If he was a bit more open in his views and prepared to review the facts then the "back door approach" wouldn't be needed.

 

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