...is a wise man, i've always thought, and this fresh proposal shows how lucky this fine city is to have him lead our nation into a new Enlightenment.
The London Mayor...
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Furthermore; Police hunting for people who use small amounts of cannabis is a waste of scarce resources, and diverts officers from tackling much more serious criminals, says Brian Paddick, a senior Metropolitan police officer who in 2001 pioneered the limited decriminalisation of cannabis in a pilot scheme in Lambeth, south London.
Now a member of the House of Lords, he told the Guardian the scheme had helped ease community tensions in the borough, which included areas such as Brixton: “When I was the police commander in Brixton I was very concerned about the impact of the policing of possession of small amounts of cannabis was having on police and community relations. “It was diverting scarce resources away from issues that were a priority for the community. In particular, street robberies, burglary and hard drugs such as crack cocaine and heroin.”
Under the scheme, those caught with small amounts of cannabis for personal use were given a warning and their drugs were confiscated. Paddick said officers would spend hours processing cannabis arrests that would result in minor punishment, such as a caution or conditional discharge: “We were wasting a lot of money for something that was not a priority at the time.
He added: “80% of local people were in favour of the effective decriminalisation of cannabis for personal use.”
Eighty percent? Sounds like a majority to me. Isn't that how Democracy is supposed to work?
Now a member of the House of Lords, he told the Guardian the scheme had helped ease community tensions in the borough, which included areas such as Brixton: “When I was the police commander in Brixton I was very concerned about the impact of the policing of possession of small amounts of cannabis was having on police and community relations. “It was diverting scarce resources away from issues that were a priority for the community. In particular, street robberies, burglary and hard drugs such as crack cocaine and heroin.”
Under the scheme, those caught with small amounts of cannabis for personal use were given a warning and their drugs were confiscated. Paddick said officers would spend hours processing cannabis arrests that would result in minor punishment, such as a caution or conditional discharge: “We were wasting a lot of money for something that was not a priority at the time.
He added: “80% of local people were in favour of the effective decriminalisation of cannabis for personal use.”
Eighty percent? Sounds like a majority to me. Isn't that how Democracy is supposed to work?
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Does that happen? Doubt it.
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"No arrests have been made" New met slogan.
Well, a U-Guv Pole says 54% support decrim...and 34% oppose the proposal. Let the people decide.
Shall we have a refererendumb?
The use of cannabis, all the party drugs, coke, mdma, etc, prescription drugs used by others than the prescription owner is so entrenched in British society that policing it is a joke... but apparently its still an issue for some. Realism in politics now there would be a thing of beauty.
Our local police have just announced they caught a shop lifter and he was sentenced to 6 weeks in prison.
Well done, now how about catching illegal immigrants, thugs and any other riff raff who may be knifing each other.
Well done, now how about catching illegal immigrants, thugs and any other riff raff who may be knifing each other.
The last time London dabbled in decriminalising cannabis, it brought one part of the capital to a brief but giddy high. In 2001, an enterprising Scotland Yard borough commander empowered his officers in Lambeth to caution rather than arrest those carrying small amounts of the drug for personal use – freeing them, according to the scheme’s proponents, to concentrate on more serious crimes.
The softly-softly approach was controversial in some political and policing quarters, but wildly popular in the borough – and some of its results were dramatic. Over six months, more than 2,500 hours of police officers’ time were saved on processing cannabis arrests, while arrests for dealing class A drugs rose by almost a fifth.
Non-drug crime fell by 9% overall, with sharp declines in burglaries and street robberies. Almost two-thirds thought it had improved relations between the police and the community. The Lambeth experiment would end after a year, however, after the man behind it, Brian Paddick, was transferred following newspaper allegations about his private life – later acknowledged to be false.
The Saturday Read (which i'm sure few of you will) takes an in-depth view of the issue and the proposal to (re)classify natural cannabis - not the thc riddled Skunk strain - and allow folk to enjoy small quatities of weed when the mood takes them. It doesn't mean they're considering full legalisation but looking into a way for cannabis to be reconsidered in the same category as Class A narcotics which has always struck me as absurd.
The softly-softly approach was controversial in some political and policing quarters, but wildly popular in the borough – and some of its results were dramatic. Over six months, more than 2,500 hours of police officers’ time were saved on processing cannabis arrests, while arrests for dealing class A drugs rose by almost a fifth.
Non-drug crime fell by 9% overall, with sharp declines in burglaries and street robberies. Almost two-thirds thought it had improved relations between the police and the community. The Lambeth experiment would end after a year, however, after the man behind it, Brian Paddick, was transferred following newspaper allegations about his private life – later acknowledged to be false.
The Saturday Read (which i'm sure few of you will) takes an in-depth view of the issue and the proposal to (re)classify natural cannabis - not the thc riddled Skunk strain - and allow folk to enjoy small quatities of weed when the mood takes them. It doesn't mean they're considering full legalisation but looking into a way for cannabis to be reconsidered in the same category as Class A narcotics which has always struck me as absurd.
4:20
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Do you really love him?
I've seen a few clips about him wanting/allowing to build on Trent park.... I dont think people are happy.
I’ve never bought the argument that decriminalising drugs reduces crime. If profits collapse, other way of making money will be found. It’s no different to any other business. Decriminalising drugs is like decriminalising assisted suicide, it’s not right because it makes some people feel better.
