DRUG USE RISES AFTER POLICE TRY LENIENT APPROACH

THE leader of Britain's rank-and-file police officers said yesterday that
the use of hard drugs and cannabis was increasing in an area of South
London that has adopted a "softly softly" approach to cannabis.

Fred Broughton, chairman of the Police Federation, also told MPs that the
scheme had given youngsters the impression that cannabis use had been
condoned by the police and other authorities.

Mr Broughton said that crack abusers and crack dealers had become more
active and visible in Lambeth since the piloting of the relaxed attitude
towards cannabis users. He said: "There's anecdotal evidence in South
London that the change in procedures is encouraging more people to come to
that area and more people are involving themselves in cannabis.

"There's also anecdotal evidence that more serious matters " crack abusers
and crack dealers " are becoming more visible and more active."

Mr Broughton, whose organisation represents 126,000 police officers,
criticised the pilot scheme when he gave evidence to a cross-party Commons
Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry into the Government's drugs policy.

"I don't think that what's currently practised in South London is reducing
the number of people who are using cannabis or using other drugs. In fact,
the reverse seems to be true," he said.

"It is alleged that there are more people openly smoking cannabis in and
around the town centre. One officer told me that whereas a year or so ago a
member of the public would hide from you in relation to smoking cannabis,
now they are openly smoking it."

Mr Broughton said that police officers in Lambeth who worked as school
liaison officers reported confusion among pupils and teachers who thought
that cannabis had been decriminalised.

Under the scheme, started by Brian Paddick, the local police commander,
those found with small amounts of cannabis for personal use are warned, not
arrested. The drug is confiscated. He was not available for comment yesterday.

Since the initiative began, 400 people have escaped prosecution after being
stopped by police and found to be in possession of cannabis.