POLICE REVOLT OVER CHANGE IN CANNABIS LAW

Police forces around England and Wales are revolting against changes
in the law on cannabis introduced by David Blunkett, the Home
Secretary, whom they accuse of creating confusion.

Some are even saying they will ignore his order for a "softly, softly"
approach to the drug and, instead, plan to prosecute offenders to the
limit of the law in all cases

While the Metropolitan Police and its experiment of tolerating
cannabis use in Lambeth has captured headlines, the softly, softly
approach is anathema to police forces across parts of the country. The
result is a "postcode lottery", with different forces applying
different approaches to the policing of the law.

One officer with the Dyfed Powys drug-prevention unit cited as an
example an approach by a group of students at last week's Royal Welsh
Show. DC Wyn Davies explained: "They wanted to know why if they smoked
cannabis at their university in London the police would take no
action, but if on their return home to Wales they did the same thing
they would end up in a police cell. They didn't think that was right."

"My own view is that David Blunkett's softly softly approach is
counter productive and confusing."

Under the Home Secretary's plans, cannabis is to be reclassified as a
"Class C" drug, which will mean police can no longer automatically
arrest someone found smoking it. Instead, they will have to issue
written warnings and confiscate the drug.

The move is seen as paving the way for the decriminalisation of small
amounts of cannabis for personal use. Yet contrary to the impression
given in the right-wing tabloid press, this policy is not yet being
implemented in many forces in England and Wales.

"It is our duty to uphold the law," said a spokesman for the Cumbria
police. "Possession of cannabis is an offence and we will act. We are
aware that variations in policing this offence do exist in different
areas and we have made it clear via the local media that our policy
hasn't changed."

North Wales police also intend to continue arresting and prosecuting
for possession. Chief Inspector Mark Owen, head of community safety,
said: "There has been no change to the law and we will uphold the
letter of the law in relation to cannabis."

The Association of Chief Police Officers has a working group trying to
establish a set of national guidelines to bring conformity to the
policing of cannabis in England and Wales.

Until then, as Chief Inspector Owen explained: "It is a muddle and a
mess. I wouldn't envy someone trying to second guess what the attitude
in any given force is going to be to this issue."