Pubdate: Thu, 05 Sep 2002
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright: 2002 Guardian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175
Author: David Ward

CHARITY ATTACKS CANNABIS POLICY

Drug users caught in possession of cannabis on the streets three times 
within a year will be arrested under a "three spliffs and you're out" rule 
announced by police chiefs yesterday.

But the charity DrugScope claimed the move could mean "conservative police 
elements" were trying to frustrate ministers' intentions and hang on to 
their powers.

The new advice on possession is contained in a policy document drawn up by 
the Association of Chief Police Officers and revealed in part at the 
association's drugs conference in Blackpool. Those caught with cannabis 
once or twice in 12 months will be warned. If caught a third time they will 
be arrested and could be cautioned or face a court.

"We want to be tolerant but we don't want to be too liberal," said Andy 
Hayman, deputy assistant commissioner with the Metropolitan police and 
chairman of Acpo's drugs sub-committee.

He said Acpo felt an arrest at the time of a second offence "would not be 
tolerant", but to do nothing after three offences would be too liberal.

DrugScope's chief executive, Roger Howard, said the Home Office had given 
assurances that the power of arrest would only be used in exceptional 
circumstances where aggravating factors were present.

"Repeat personal possession is not, in our view, an aggravating factor," he 
said. "This three strikes policy is likely to hit those communities who are 
subject to the most stop and searches. Cannabis law will therefore continue 
to be a source of friction with particular communities."

Other provisions in the Acpo document are intended to plug a gap which 
emerged during the Lambeth experiment in south London on a softer approach 
to cannabis. Those caught openly smoking will be arrested and taken to a 
police station if they refuse to hand over their drugs.

The guidelines are about to go out to public consultation and could come 
into effect after Christmas, six months before cannabis is likely to be 
reduced from class B to C status following an announcement by the home 
secretary, David Blunkett, last July.

Speaking at the conference, Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth said the new 
classification of cannabis would be policed in a way that was not "resource 
intensive".

He added: "In most cases a warning will be sufficient. But where there are 
aggravating factors, the police will retain power of arrest."

During the conference police chiefs also warned of the need for more 
research on crack cocaine, and Mr Ainsworth said a new strategy on the drug 
would be announced in coming months.

. An investigation into a series of newspaper allegations, including 
smoking cannabis, against the Lambeth police commander Brian Paddick has 
been completed, it emerged yesterday, writes Nick Hopkins.

The deputy chief constable of Humberside, Gordon Clark, has sent his report 
about the claims to the police complaints authority. The report will now be 
forwarded to the Metropolitan police authority. The MPA will convene a 
disciplinary committee within weeks to decide what action, if any, should 
be taken against Mr Paddick.
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