TORY LEADER URGED TO END DRUG SILENCE

NORFOLK'S top cop today called on Conservative leader Michael Howard to
admit whether he had ever smoked cannabis.

Andy Hayman, Chief Constable of Norfolk police, said Mr Howard should
answer the question after the Tory leader criticised the reclassification
of cannabis from Class B to Class C.

As chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers Drugs
Sub-Committee, Mr Hayman was instrumental in drawing up new police
guidelines about cannabis, which come into effect onThursday.

Under the new guidelines, cannabis is placed alongside anabolic steroids
and prescription antibiotics, and recommends police not to arrest people
possessing small quantities.

But Mr Howard slammed the Government's decision to reclassify cannabis as
"completely misconceived" and said if his party came to power it would make
it a Class B drug again.

He then refused to reveal whether he had ever tried cannabis himself
despite pressure from Home Secretary David Blunkett.

Mr Hayman said: "It is a personal choice, but if you are in the public eye
and there's a question from the community he should consider answering it."

Mr Hayman said he was prepared to stand up and state he had never tried
cannabis himself and said Mr Howard should make his clear.

Responding to criticism that the new laws surrounding cannabis were
"muddled" and unclear, Mr Hayman insisted they were not and his officers
knew exactly what their powers were.

Posters and drinks coasters explaining that cannabis remains illegal and
outlining when officers can arrest people in possession of the drug have
been sent to police stations across the county while officers have studied
a CD Rom explaining the changes.

Mr Hayman said: "All that is happening is a formalising of what has been
happening for a couple of years and making it clear that cannabis is
illegal and there is a power of arrest.

"Police officers will be expected to use their discretion and take the
circumstances of each case into account before deciding whether to arrest
or not."

The guidance means arrest will be considered if people are caught smoking
cannabis in public, if they are repeatedly caught with the drug or if they
have the drug somewhere near children, such as a school or youth club.