Pubdate: Sun, 16 Nov 2003
Source: Western Mail (UK)
Copyright: Trinity Mirror Plc 2003
Contact:  http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2598
Author: Darren Devine, The Western Mail
Note: As this is posted it appears that neither of the websites discussed 
below are on line. However, as is often the case, most of the pages for the 
northwalespolice site were captured by the WayBack Machine last Febuary. 
Note that the WayBack Machine, which copies much of the web on a fairly 
regular basis, is a busy site. If specific pages do not appear try again at 
a less busy time.
http://web.archive.org/web/20030217154843/http://www.northwalespolice.com/

Solicitors Warn Cannabis Cafe Man

A BUSINESSMAN who wants to open Wales' first cannabis cafe has been forced 
to remove two controversial websites critical of North Wales Police 
officers after he was threatened with legalaction.

Jeffrey Ditchfield's northwalespolice com and a forum debating change on 
beggarsbelief com have now been down for more than a week after solicitors 
Russell Jones & Walker contacted the businessman claiming material on the 
sites was "defamatory and offensive".

The solicitors have promised to drop the matter provided Mr Ditchfield 
removes the comments and posts an apology to the officers on the sites.

Earlier this year Mr Ditchfield opened BeggarsBelief, in Rhyl, from where 
he said he was helping people suffering from illnesses like cancer and 
multiple sclerosis by giving them free cannabis for medicinal purposes.

His shop was raided on the first day it opened in September and Mr 
Ditchfield faces prosecution for possession and possession with intent to 
supply.

Mr Ditchfield has also said it is his long-term aim to run Beggars Belief 
as an Amsterdam-style cannabis cafe, selling the drug over the counter.

Russell, Jones & Walker contacted Mr Ditchfield, the secretary of the North 
Wales Police Federation and two other officers.

Two claimed the site libelled them, while the third argued that remarks 
made on the web pages about him were untrue and a breach of his human rights.

But Mr Ditchfield has threatened a counter action against the police 
officers and the solicitors, saying taking down the websites has 
interrupted his trade because he uses them to advertise an on-line shop.

"I didn't withdraw the sites. They went to a company which uploads to the 
web and threatened it with legal action," he said.

"It's only temporary, because I'm now looking to host it off-shore."

By hosting the site off-shore, Mr Ditchfield hopes to avoid falling foul of 
this country's libel laws. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake