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| Cannabis Scheme Saves Police Time |
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Posted by FoM on March 21, 2002 at 07:31:29 PT By Mark Oliver Source: Guardian Unlimited 
A scheme where people are let off with a warning for cannabis possession has saved 1,350 hours of police time in six months, a report showed today - findings which will encourage Commander Brian Paddick, the officer who introduced the policy and whose career is in trouble after allegations he smoked the drug himself. The Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir John Stevens, launched the report three days after Mr Paddick, who was in charge of Lambeth police, south London, where the controversial scheme is being trialled, was moved to another post as an inquiry was launched into allegations that he regularly smoked cannabis. Sir John told a meeting of the Metropolitan police authority that officers involved in the scheme had issued 450 warnings to people found with small amounts of the drug and that the time saved was the equivalent of having nearly two extra officers. The police foundation report showed 83% of residents in Lambeth supported the "softly, softly" cannabis scheme. He said 36% supported it outright, and 47% had given conditional support. Mr Paddick, who is Britain's most senior openly gay policeman, was also accused of keeping the drug in his home. He denies the allegations, made by a former partner, and claims he is the victim of a homophobic witchhunt. Today there was due to be a protest by his supporters outside Brixton police station. The pilot scheme saw a 35% increase in the instances of possession recorded and an 11% increase in trafficking offences. Supporters of the scheme claim that freeing up officer time allows police to detect more offences. Critics say the increase in recorded offences is because drugs have flooded into the area as a result of the experiment. Sir John said: "A larger percentage of white residents than black or Asian residents supported the scheme." He said the report suggested officer time saved in completing arrest formalities and preparing court papers could be put to use in fighting crime. Deputy assistant commissioner Mike Fuller, who has been overseeing the project, said there had been some misunderstanding in Lambeth about what the scheme actually meant. He said: "The public were very unclear about what was happening and thought drugs were being legalised and that wasn't the case. Officers are still seizing the cannabis." Sir John said no immediate decision was being taken and, for the moment, the pilot scheme in Lambeth would continue. Mr Paddick, 43, was swiftly switched to a low-profile desk job away from Lambeth while the inquiry is carried out by an outside force. He has received support from the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, and members of the community in Lambeth. Special Report: Drugs in Britain: http://www.guardian.co.uk/drugs/0,2759,178206,00.html Source: Guardian Unlimited, The (UK) Related Articles: Blunkett Defends 'Liberal' Drugs Policy Scotland Yard Investigates Marijuana Complaint Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #2 posted by E_Johnson on March 21, 2002 at 10:17:29 PT |
| Right about now they should be selling stories to the tabloids of all the London police officers they've smoked weed with. But maybe those stories are so common, the price isn't worth the hassle. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on March 21, 2002 at 09:18:49 PT:
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| to come to the aid of sanity." I know, a paraphrase of a somewhat jingoist statement...but in this case, it warrants it. I could care less what sexual orientation someone has; does he or she haul their own freight...or does it have to be carried by everybody else? Was the work done in the spirit of service...or self service? was it done honestly...or was something going on under the table? I certainly don't know Commander Paddick, and never will. But it might behoove all of us, regardless of nationality, to write Sir John and express support for Commander Paddick's policy...and question exactly what's behind this latest, all-too-convenient attack upon him personally for that policy. Nothing like an international spotlight to make the anti cockroaches run... [ Post Comment ] |
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