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Police want to retain cannabis warnings
5/2/08|The Herald| by Michael Settle

The UK Government's drug policy was branded a "shambles" last night after it emerged that cannabis users could still continue to escape with a slap on the wrist even after Gordon Brown is expected to reclassify it as a "hard" drug.

The row erupted after the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) in England confirmed it wanted to keep "cannabis warnings" for people found in possession of the drug when it is reclassified from a Class C back to a Class B drug; it was downgraded to a "soft" drug in 2004.

The warnings do not lead to a criminal record; possession is in practice a largely non-arrestable offence.

advertisementHowever, when cannabis returns to being a "hard" drug - the Prime Minister's decision could come as early as next week - it looks likely there will be significant differences between the way police treat different drugs in the same category. Class B drugs include amphetamines such as speed; possession could lead to a jail term of up to five years. Class C drugs include anabolic steroids; the maximum jail term for possession is two years.

Last night, David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary, said: "This will render Gordon Brown's much-spun U-turn useless and make a mockery of the classification system.

"What kind of message does it send to young people about the danger of this drug that you will still get away with a warning? Clearly, the Prime Minister hasn't got a grip on this policy. That makes him part of the problem."

After reports appeared about Acpo's view on "cannabis warnings," the organisation issued a clarification. A spokesman said that it stood by its recommendation to the ACMD that cannabis should be restored to a Class B drug.

"Should the decision be taken to reclassify cannabis to Class B, we would expect to see increased robust enforcement activity particularly in cases involving repeat offenders or where there are aggravating circumstances," he said.

However, he made clear Acpo would seek to "retain the flexibility in dealing with instances of simple possession on the street, including the discretion to issue warnings in appropriate circumstances".

No 10, when asked about the Tory and LibDem attacks, referred to Acpo's clarification about "increased robust enforcement activity" and suggested, therefore, that earlier reports of a "softly softly" approach were wrong.

William McColl, on behalf of the police chiefs association in Scotland (Acpos), made clear that, like their counterparts in England, Scottish forces focused primarily on targeting drug dealers.

He said: "The police in Scotland consider the current arrangements are effective and will continue to tackle dealers head-on. We will also continue to educate the children and young people of the harms and risks associated with all drugs so that ultimately through education and early intervention we will successfully reduce the demand for these drugs."

Asked about Acpos's view on the reclassification of cannabis and Scottish police forces' use of "cannabis warnings", a spokesman for the Scottish Police Services Authority told The Herald that it was "reluctant" to enter a political debate but would respond to any decision by Mr Brown on reclassification at the appropriate time.

A spokesman for the UK Drug Policy Commission said the classification system had become "muddled".