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.