BLAIR UNDER PRESSURE ON SOFT POLICING OF CANNABIS

Tony Blair came under mounting pressure yesterday to abandon plans to
extend nationwide a controversial experiment in the "soft" policing of
cannabis use.

He rejected a demand from Iain Duncan Smith, the Tory leader, to scrap the
trial scheme in Lambeth, south London. But he told the Commons: "If it
doesn't work, then of course we won't extend it, but it is important that
we take into account all the relevant views put to us."

Mr Duncan Smith said police figures were already clear. They showed that
drug trafficking had doubled and total drug offences had trebled in Lambeth
during the year-long pilot scheme.

"Community leaders inside the area are all complaining about it," said Mr
Duncan Smith. "One has actually said that 'the police have abandoned the
streets to the dealers'."

Mr Blair said there were "differences of opinion" as to whether it had
worked or not.

His comments were notably more cautious than those of Home Office
ministers, who have praised the relaxed cannabis laws being piloted in the
Brixton area of Lambeth. Under the scheme, people caught with cannabis are
cautioned and not arrested.

Bob Ainsworth, Home Office Minister, claimed in November that the scheme
had been a success, saving police time and enabling officers to concentrate
on tackling hard drugs.

But community leaders have complained that the pilot scheme has brought
more drug dealers and petty criminals on to the streets and, according to
GPs and community workers, caused more children to use the drug.

Kate Hoey, the Vauxhall MP whose constituency includes Lambeth, met David
Blunkett, the Home Secretary, yesterday to ask him to reconsider plans to
reclassify cannabis. "Based on what I have seen in Lambeth I do not believe
it can be the right decision," she said.

Ros Griffiths, who runs the Employment Cafe for young people in Brixton,
believes the policy has sent the wrong message to petty criminals.

"We are sick of drug dealers operating openly on our streets and the police
doing nothing to stop it," he said. "What message does that send out about
the police and drug use? That the laws don't matter."

A formal announcement is expected on July 13.

The Lambeth pilot was introduced without consultation by Commander Brian
Paddick, who is now being investigated over newspaper allegations about his
personal life.

A senior criminal judge yesterday accused the police of causing the
criminal justice system to "fall apart".

Judge George Bathhurst-Norman, who sits as senior resident judge at
Southwark Crown Court in south London, blamed the Metropolitan Police for
delays in bringing defendants to trial.

He warned that he might consider contempt proceedings against senior
officers who he believed were refusing to allow junior colleagues to comply
with court orders.

Judge Bathurst-Norman accused the police of failing to disclose their case
to defence teams in good time. As a result, trials had to be adjourned so
lawyers could prepare a defence properly.

The judge said this prompted a further court appearance and an additional
drain on the public purse. "Each time it happens, the public loses a
minimum of ?300," he said.