HARD TO POLICE SOFT DRUGS LAW

Policing Drugs May Become Much Harder Because Of The Relaxation Of Cannabis
Laws, Says Newark's Police Chief.

Cannabis is being downgraded, putting it in the same category as
anti-depressants and steroids.

The Home Secretary, Mr David Blunkett, announced that from October cannabis
smokers will no longer be arrested for having a small personal amount, but
will have the drug confiscated.

Inspector Jerry Butler said: "Arrests for a small amount of cannabis were
seldom a waste of time and it remains to be seen how the changes will affect
our ability to locate drug supplies and dealers and prevent first-time
offenders becoming addicts and susceptible to committing crime.

"We will have to contend with the situation when users of cannabis move or
are driven into the arms of pushers of heroin and crack cocaine."

Instead of making an arrest police who find cannabis or a person smoking it
in the street can issue a warning, a caution or a court summons, but
officers will be less likely to seek a prosecution.

Users could face a UKP1,000 fine rather than the present UKP2,500.

The maximum sentence for dealing is to be increased from five to 14 years.

Between January 1, 2001, and July 16, 2001, there were no arrests for
possession of amphetamines in Newark but in the same period in 2002 there
were seven arrests.

There were no arrests for cocaine and crack cocaine in 2001 but two arrests
this year. Last year there were 14 arrests for cannabis and 22 this year,
ecstasy arrests went from one to none, heroin rose from two to seven.

Inspector Butler said a suspect could be interviewed on a possession charge
if they were believed to have committed a more serious offence.

The MP for Newark, Mr Patrick Mercer, said the change was extremely
dangerous.

The MP for Sherwood, Mr Paddy Tipping, said: "I think we are right to take
the advice of the drug advisory council, the Association of Chief Police
Officers and the Commons Select Committee, who say cannabis should now be
classified a Class C drug."