Rescuing
Democracy in the United Kingdom from our current Elected
Dictatorship
|
Spin, not
face-to-face confrontations with the voters, is the Government's
chosen method of communication. Ordinary
people are dangerous. Ordinary people might ask a question
which throws a politician 'off message'; the Cabinet member
might reveal himself or herself to be a human being like
us, and not a programmed android. Worse still, he or she
might tell the truth.
Ann Leslie - Daily Mail, September
16, 2004
|
Police
demand U-turn over softer law on cannabis
Downgrading
of drug has led to open defiance by smokers
by
Stephen Wright, Chief Crime Correspondent, Daily Mail, June 28,
2004
Police yesterday called for a Goverment U-turn
over the softening of the law on cannabis. Front-line officers
claim the controversial new rules have brought a 'sense of lawlessness'
to the streets, said Police Federation chairman, Jan Berry.
Some smokers deliberately flaunt their habit
by openly taking and selling cannabis in public, she added. Almost
six months after cannabis was downgraded to a Class C drug, Mrs
Berry said her 136,000 members are 'walking on egg-shells' over
the issue. She said there is still widespread confusion about
how to treat blatant smokers who went beyond 'acceptable behaviour'
in public. "If a person insists on doing something to get
themselves arrested, you can use your skills to try to calm them,"
said Mrs Berry. "But there will be other people watching
how you react - if you react in one way to a group of people and
not the same to somebody else. It's very often like walking on
eggshells."
Cannabis was downgraded from a Class B to a 'soft'
Class C drug in January and the law was changed to allow officers
to arrest for possession of Class C drugs. But the Association
of Chief Police Officers drew up guidelines saying arrests should
be made only in aggravated circumstances. These include cases
of smokers under 18, those caught near schools and those thought
to be causing a public order problem. Most of those caught in
possession of cannabis can expect the police to confiscate the
drug and issue a routine warning.
The legal change has left many officers confused,
Mrs Berry said. Many would not, for example, arrest someone for
blowing dope smoke in their faces but they were torn. The Government's
saying, "It is not really serious, we don't want you to prioritise
it." But it is an arrestable offence, and now we get people
saying: "Go on, arrest me>"
Mrs Berry called for a public debate over the
law on soft drugs. "I think it would be wrong to change the
law every six months because it hasn't worked," she said.
"But I am convinced it is not law enforcement which will
make a real difference in drugs. It's about properly raising awareness
and treatment programmes."
In an interview with the Observer, she also expressed
concern over the growing evidence of a link between cannabis smoking
and psychotic illness. Earlier this month,, official figures revealed
that cannabis addiction, which can trigger mental health problems,
is soaring. More users than ever are seeking help to quit the
drug, according to statistics from the Department of Health. Almost
one in ten of those visiting NHS drug addiction centres are trying
to wean themselves off cannabis.
The figure, which has doubled in a decade, immediately
fuelled fears that the Government has harmed public health by
downgrading cannabis to a 'softer' class. Home Office officials
insist the law change allows the police to concentrate on more
serious offences involving hard drugs and that there is no evidence
of higher cannabis consumption.
