Cannabis News Students for Sensible Drug Policy
  Crime Falls in Cannabis Trial Area
Posted by CN Staff on May 29, 2002 at 11:50:24 PT
Brian Paddick pioneered the lenient treatment  
Source: BBC News  

cannabis The south London borough which is piloting a scheme to treat cannabis offenders more leniently has seen a dramatic drop in the level of street crimes. The number of robberies and muggings in Lambeth has halved in the last six months, and the latest figures for this month show the trend is continuing.

Police have stemmed the rate of increase in the number of street crimes right across London.

But the drop in Lambeth is considerable, according to figures released on Wednesday.

There is a massive saving of resources achieved by this reduction in crime -- Det Supt Jim Webster, Lambeth Police

There were 468 robberies and muggings in the Lambeth area last month, compared with 916 in October.

So far this year, robbery is down by 18% - the highest street crime reduction in London.

Police say the use of traffic officers on robbery patrols and operations targeted at known suspects have helped bring about the reduction.

Cannabis warning

Senior officers also acknowledge the contribution by the borough's former Commander Brian Paddick, who was removed from his post in March.

His scheme, to warn those caught in possession of cannabis rather than arrest them, was part of a plan enabling police to focus on street crime.

Detective Superintendent Jim Webster, crime manager for Lambeth Police, told BBC News Online that putting an extra 40 officers into the area had played a key part in crime reduction.

He said "it would not be useful" to comment on any role the cannabis scheme may have played in the reduction of crime, while a "serious study" was looking at this issue.

"We are prioritising the areas that local people hold to be vital, such as street crime and drug dealing," he said.

"There are some 450 fewer people per month becoming victims of street robbery now as compared to six months ago.

"This the result of concentrated effort from many agencies within the borough.

Successful initiatives

"There is a massive saving of resources achieved by this reduction in crime."

Police said successful initiatives included the use of robbery response cars operating six days per week between 1600 and 0200 BST Monday to Saturday.

Police, working with Lambeth housing department, have also been targeting convicted youngsters and teenagers suspected of involvement in crime.

Their parents are being visited and in some cases they have been warned that their children's behaviour could lead to their eviction.

Police have also concentrated on a number of Tube stations to carry out crime prevention and have installed surveillance cameras at key crime hotspots.

Newshawk: darwin
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Published: Wednesday, May 29, 2002
Copyright: 2002 BBC
Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Contact: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/

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Comment #8 posted by idbsne1 on May 30, 2002 at 12:32:50 PT
You couldn't even get....
an FCC license with a drug conviction. I signed up for a license for GWRS radio band... mostly walkie talkie band...On the registration form, it asked whether you had a drug conviction. Fricking Nazis...

idbsne1

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Comment #7 posted by MDG on May 29, 2002 at 19:09:42 PT
Dan B,
Do you think there could be another reason why our media sucks besides "corporate interests"? I'd say the government has more control here than corporations of any sort no matter how much money it brings in. No company I'm aware of will dash your hopes of owning a radio station with call letters W-E-E-D like the FCC. Last time I checked, it is not possible to own a radio station if you have a "drug conviction". This isn't even some subversive scheme like editing scripts, it's wholesale elimination of potential buyers' rights. Besides, aren't "the airwaves" publicly-owned? Oops! Better make that government-owned. Anyone can boycott the deep-pockets of Zoloft's makers advertising on MTV and NBC by not taking Zoloft and even by not watching MTV or NBC! But, you can't get away from the threat of jail or complete disenfranchisment of entrepeneurs. Control isn't maintained by the hall-monitor in the school, it's by the bully that kicks the crap out of you and takes your lunch money. The US government is the bully, we are the faculty/student body. Vote! Okay, enough ranting...

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #6 posted by Nuevo Mexican on May 29, 2002 at 18:15:59 PT
Great news day, but slow, sooo....
The hits will just have to keep on coming! David Brock Interview! Read this FOM and you'll know what you already knew but didn't want to be reminded of! Just think of the machinations behind Cannabis Prohibition and all the closet Republican tokers who put thousands away, behind bars for years, for the same pasttime! Reminds me of the movie, 'Midnight in the garden of good and evil' rent it, you will see the parallel.

http://www.buzzflash.com/interviews/2002/05/29_David_Brock.h tml

And more great news is on it's way , but will not be presented as such! No way! NO how!A dour, downturned, lowered expectations kind of thing. Headlines: Cannabis Legalized in Europe, Mexico and Canada, now back to Chandra....Ever notice how Chavez's overthrow THRILLED the U.S. media? How gladly the media embraced the new TERROR alerts, with an only too glad to comply attitude? (what? Me worry!) This 'bad news for bush' newscycle isn't really our cup of tea, the media blatantly communicates with it's sick fascination/distraction device Rove and Company use on the rank and file press. If this was Clinton (911,Enron), it would be 24/7 all penis, all the time! Since georgie was castrated while in a fraternity, there must not be a story! If it bleeds, it leads! What happened to that theory, (just kiddin)! So here is a story about what the big boys were doing on 911, where they were and I wonder if we could find out what they were talking about. If we just made up the conversations dddd, mayan, Kap, GCW, E.J. FOM, what would they be saying, I'm sure we could figure it out! 'How much to shut the media up on 911, where do we put the money, and who do we need to pay? There, that was simple! Answer: 1. It's already a done deal, no worries! 2. The Cayman Islands, easy, already done! 3. The masters, the corporate/military/oil elite, they'll make sure the money gets into the right hands!

Carlyle's Way Making a mint inside "the iron triangle" of defense, government and industry. By Dan Briody December 11, 2001

http://www.redherring.com/mag/issue108/947.html

From the article: 'That the Carlyle Group had its conference on America's darkest day was mere coincidence, but there is nothing accidental about the cast of characters that this private-equity powerhouse has assembled in the 14 years since its founding. Among those associated with Carlyle are former U.S. president George Bush Sr., former U.K. prime minister John Major, and former president of the Philippines Fidel Ramos. Ad Naseum....(if Osama planned the attacks, he would've known about this meeting and targeted it accordingly, don't ya think, since everyone else of major wealth and position was in Offett Air Force Base, hmmmmm?)

Maybe we could find out who killed Chandra, since it is known by someone and the truth will come out, (I've been led to believe from sources O.J. was known to be innocent, as he reportedly sold confiscated coke for the LAPD but was known to be guilty by relation, If I have been informed of that, someone here must have some clues about Chandra. Fess up! We've solved the who done it of 911 months ago, in fact, most here know after Tom and Rollie were murdered, what was coming next, and said so before 911. Great work C-News reporters! I hear everything FIRST at C-News, right lurkers! TV chatter in the background So now that Chandras' body has been found, will the story go away? Answer coming up after this commercial for your chosed medication! No, it is bound to be used like O.J. to milk every last dollar and bit of attention that would've gone to bush and enron if it was a just world. If it was Clinton though, you know it would be 24/7! It was for 8 years! And still goes on, even here at C-news! I'm still trying to forget the sick questions and perverted voyuerism of the talking heads, moralists like Bob Barr and pun-ditz' that raked in millions of dollars while focused on one mans crotch. I guess I just answered my own question. Has anyone here even imagined the vomitfest that would ensue if we were to focus on shrubs pretzel? I'm gagging now! I guess you can count on there being no sex scandals in this white house! (Just mass murder, war, more mass murder, more war.)Sounds like a case of a major inferiority complex to me. If your reading this Barbara Bush, we want the scoop on Georgie I and II, as we've already seen what Jeb has to offer, compliments of his older, more mature brother. (I won't post the picture, but our pResident showed it to everybody anyway).

Here more about that FLOrida thing called stealing an election....Greg Palast is the journalist of the year in my book! You might not want to read it E.J., it's rather disturbing! Have Fun everybody, the war is over!

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUIT A "SHAM" TO PROTECT HARRIS, BUSH

http://gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=157&row=0

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #5 posted by Dan B on May 29, 2002 at 17:57:03 PT:

All the jazz
I meant to say, ". . . and all that jazz." Hey, maybe I started a new idiom, like "all the rage."

Cannabis News is "all the jazz."

On second thought, it sounds stupid.

Dan B

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #4 posted by Dan B on May 29, 2002 at 17:52:24 PT:

BBC
I appreciate this story, too. Notice that reporters at the BBC, which is government owned and operated, are ironically better at representing the whole truth than America's broadcast reporters, who are controlled by corporate interests. Who would have thought?

I am fortunate to get BBC America on digital cable, and I watch their morning world news every time I get a chance. I was pleasantly surprised by their handling of the Jenin massacre as well (yes, it was a massacre--I have seen the pictures that prove it so. And no, you don't want to see them--unless you have a very strong stomach and never, ever suffer from nightmares). They actually questioned the veracity of statements made by the Israeli official they interviewed--to his face! You will never see such questions on American network news.

Anyway, the BBC is okay by me, and all the jazz.

Dan B

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #3 posted by darwin on May 29, 2002 at 13:14:40 PT
day brightener
This article really brightened my day. The BBC seems more appealing to me everyday. They seem to actually have some amount of balance in their reporting. I think I can get rid of my TV now, at least in regard to news.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 29, 2002 at 13:01:41 PT
Hi Nicholas
There is nothing like breaking news if it's in an area that a person is interested. I think it goes with the territory for many of us and I just down right love it!

PS: It's really nice when we can kindly say to the antis I told you so! LOL!

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #1 posted by Nicholas Thimmesch on May 29, 2002 at 12:45:35 PT:

Darwin's survival....
...of the fastest: good post, you beat me...THIMMESCH

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