cannabisnews.com: Cannabis Users Facing Caution Instead of Arrest Cannabis Users Facing Caution Instead of Arrest Posted by CN Staff on August 31, 2002 at 19:16:51 PT By Kamal Ahmed Source: Observer UK People caught with cannabis are to be given 'on the street' warnings instead of being arrested and taken to a police station to face an official caution. In a national roll out of the controversial pilot scheme in Lambeth, London, the Association of Chief Police Officers will announce that all police forces in England and Wales should abandon official cautions for cannabis possession. A binding guidance note is likely to be circulated in December. The association hopes that the new rules will help clear up confusion over cannabis policy across the country following the decision earlier this year by David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, to reclassify it as a Class C drug. Blunkett said that arrests should only be made where there are 'aggravating circumstances'.In an interview with The Observer, Andy Hayman, the deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and chairman of the Acpo drugs working group, said that it was now time for police forces to move on from the issue of cannabis and concentrate on Class A drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine.'We have to formalise our policy on cannabis and get a consistent approach,' he said, adding that people caught with small amounts of cannabis for personal use will not be arrested unless they are under age.'You will be challenged, because to have possession of that drug is illegal,' he said. 'But the guidance is going to say focus on class A.'Commander Brian Paddick, the Metropolitan Police officer who first introduced the pilot project in Lambeth last summer, faced criticism from local residents. But research into the scheme revealed that police had saved hundreds of hours not officially cautioning cannabis users and that arrests for dealing in Class A drugs had increased.Paddick has since been suspended from his role and moved to a desk job pending the outcome of an investigation into claims that cannabis was smoked at his home.Hayman admitted that reports of a rise in the use of crack cocaine was causing high-levels of concern among many police forces.'We believe it is the most under-researched area of drugs,' he said. 'For us to be able to make some meaningful enforcement activity we have got to understand the nature of the problem.'Hayman added that he wanted to see more treatment centres for cocaine and heroin users and a 'rebalancing' of the system away from treating heroin addicts in the criminal justice system and towards treating them as a medical problem.Drugs Uncovered: Observer Special : http://www.observer.co.uk/drugsSource: Observer, The (UK)Author: Kamal AhmedPublished: Sunday, September 1, 2002Copyright: 2002 The ObserverContact: letters observer.co.ukWebsite: http://www.observer.co.uk/Related Articles & Web Site:Drugs Uncovered: Observer Special http://freedomtoexhale.com/dc.htmLegalising Drugs Will Save Lives http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13873.shtmlIt's the Cannabis Ban that is Dangerous http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13872.shtmlThe Real Danger of Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13784.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on September 01, 2002 at 06:59:58 PT Congrats to the UK reformers The day of decrim is finally coming. It's interesting to note that the UK plan means possession will result in a caution only, NOT a fine. The American media reported that users would be fined instead of arrested, which is not the case. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment