POLICE CHIEFS SET TO EXTEND LAMBETH'S SOFT LINE ON DRUGS

Relaxed approach on cannabis possession will be rolled out to other parts
of the country despite warnings about risk to schoolchildren

Police chiefs are drawing up plans to extend the Lambeth experiment on
cannabis to other parts of the country, despite growing criticism of the
scheme.

The move will see several forces in England and Wales warn, rather than
arrest, many people caught with small amounts with the drug.

It is intended to tie in with the Government's decision to relax cannabis
laws, which David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, is expected to announce
next month.

Whitehall sources have confirmed that Mr Blunkett is still "minded" to
reclassify cannabis from a class-B to a class-C drug, making its use a
non-arrestable offence. Fines and jail terms for cannabis offences will be
downgraded.

The nationwide pilot schemes a " which are being drawn up by the
Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) and the Metropolitan Police a "
will be similar to the Lambeth project. However, concerns that too many
people were being let off without punishment in the south London borough
will mean that police will continue to prosecute certain groups of cannabis
users, including young teenagers, motorists and disorderly people.

While chief constables were happy to see some people let off with a
warning, they were critical of the "broad-brush" approach and have backed
the more "graded" response to possession.

The Home Office and police are also expected to use the media and
advertising to emphasise that cannabis remains an illegal drug and dealers
face imprisonment. The campaign is being launched in response to reports
from Lambeth that many schoolchildren believe cannabis has been legalised.

An Acpo spokesman said: "Acpo and the Met are looking at ways to build on
the Lambeth experiment with a view to set up pilots in a number of forces
across the country."

The Lambeth experiment was devised by Commander Brian Paddick, the officer
in charge of the borough, who has since been suspended over accusations
that he used the drug and permitted others to use it at his home.

Since its launch nearly a year ago, the scheme has divided opinion in the
borough, which includes Brixton. A poll found that most residents were in
favour, provided the police used the time saved to deal with other crimes,
which was the scheme's aim. But a recent evaluation of the project by
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Mike Fuller, head of the Metropolitan
Police's drugs directorate, was critical of several aspects.

Mr Fuller has warned the Home Secretary that the experiment has resulted in
more schoolchildren smoking cannabis and encouraged drug dealers and users
to visit the area. His criticism has apparently contributed to the decision
to water down the project when it is tested out in other policeforce areas.

Kate Hoey, the Labour MP for Lambeth and a former Home Office minister,
attacked the scheme yesterday.

She said: "It has attracted more drug dealers to the area and children are
now being offered skunk cannabis [a strong form of the drug] and residents
are being continually harassed by dealers.

"There is no reason why one part of London should be picked on for this
experiment, particularly such a poor, deprived area."

She was supported by Dr Clare Gerada, a doctor in Lambeth and director of
drugs training for the Royal College of General Practitioners, who said
that since the experiment was introduced she was having to deal with an
increasing number of young people suffering from breathing problems and
mental health issues caused by cannabis use.

"The dealers are much more visible on the streets now and you can smell
cannabis much more often than before the experiment," Dr Gerada said.