MEP IN COURT FOR CANNABIS PROTEST

AN OLDHAM Euro MP was appearing before magistrates today charged with
possession of cannabis.

Liberal Democrat Chris Davies, who lives in Greenfield, denies the charge
and has elected trial by jury.

He was appearing before Stockport magistrates this morning for a committal
hearing.

Mr Davies was joined by fellow MEP Marco Cappato, of Italy's Radical Party,
who
was arrested when he turned up to support Mr Davies in December, allegedly
clutching a small amount of the drug.

He gave himself in to police at Stockport, and spent a night behind bars until
magistrates granted him bail.

Mr Davies, who asked for reporting restrictions on the case to be lifted, is
campaigning for a change to Britain's drug laws.

And he claims that local officers have already changed their policy, after
refusing to arrest a fellow MEP yesterday.

Italian Radical Party leader Marco Pannella (71) handed himself to police for
arrest for possession of cannabis, but officers refused and confiscated the
drug.

Mr Davies said: "This is a significant change in policy by officers. They had
prior warning and could have arrested him. I welcome that, it is a more
sensible
use of police resources. It does not make sense to arrest people for crimes
where
there is no victim."

But a police spokesman said today that their policy remains unchanged.

She added: "The man refused to accept a police caution and it was decided
that rather than waste police time over a pre-meditated protest, the officer
used his discretion and the man was released without charge and the substance
was seized.

"The decision does not alter GMP's commitment to tackling the issues of
drug abuse
as they currently stand in the eyes of the law.

"The interests of the people of Greater Manchester are better served by police
resources being deployed to tackle crime and disorder in the community rather
than being squandered becoming embroiled in political debates."