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Police refuse to arrest MEP for cannabis possession
28th January 2002

source: Ananova
date: 28 Jan 2002
author:
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An Italian MEP hoping to be arrested by Stockport police for cannabis
possession has been sent away after refusing a caution.

Marco Pannella, the leader of the Transnational Radical Party, was in the
city to protest against the prohibition of cannabis.

A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman told Ananova a small quantity of a
substance was confiscated and Mr Pannella was turned away.

Two other MEPs, Liberal Democrat Chris Davies and Italian Marco Cappato,
were arrested and charged with possession of cannabis in December. Both are
due in magistrates court in the city tomorrow.

The police spokeswoman said officers have the power to caution those in
possession of small amounts of the drug and said the officer concerned used
his discretion in dealing with 71-year-old Mr Pannella.

But Chris Davies claimed the failure to arrest his parliamentary colleague
marked a change in policy from the Greater Manchester force. "For those
people campaigning for a change in cannabis legislation, this is a
significant victory," he said.

However, the GMP spokeswoman said the decision doesn't alter their
commitment to tackling drug abuse. "The interests of the people of Greater
Manchester would be better served with police resources being deployed to
tackle crime and disorder within the community rather than being squandered
becoming embroiled in political debates," added a police statement.

A Home Office spokesman told Ananova cannabis possession is illegal but
said it was up to Chief Constables and their officers to interpret the law.
He said there are no proposals to legalise the drug but said the Advisory
Council for the Misuse of Drugs is considering a proposal to reclassify
cannabis as a Class C substance.

That would mean possession of cannabis for personal use would become a
non-arrestable offence.