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Association
of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland
PRESS RELEASE
25 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0EX.
Tel: 020 7227 3434 (switchboard) or
3406 (Press Office)
Fax: 020 7227 3401
E-mail: info@acpo.police.uk
ACPO PUBLISH CANNABIS ENFORCEMENT GUIDELINES
Chief
police officers have issued new guidelines on policing cannabis possession following
the Government’s proposal to reclassify cannabis from a Class B to a Class
C drug. Announcing
the new policing enforcement guidelines, Andy Hayman, Chairman of the ACPO Drugs
Sub-Committee and Chief Constable of Norfolk Constabulary, said: “Following
a period of consultation these guidelines have been developed to provide police
officers with straightforward operational guidance for dealing with simple cases
of possession by adult offenders. “The
proposed reclassification of cannabis will mean that officers will still have
a power of arrest for simple possession. In the spirit of the Home Secretary's
decision to reclassify cannabis, the new guidance recommends that there should
be a presumption against arrest. In practice, this means that in the majority
of cases officers will issue a warning and confiscate the drug. Police officers
will be expected to use their discretion and take the circumstances of each case
into account before deciding whether to arrest or not. “The
guidance suggests that arrest will be considered in circumstances such as the
smoking of cannabis in public view, repeated possession of the drug, public disorder
as a result of cannabis possession or possessing cannabis in the vicinity of premises
frequented by young people, such as schools and youth clubs. Young people (under
18s) who are found in possession of cannabis will receive a formal warning at
a police station. “The
reclassification of cannabis will allow police to focus more time and resources
on Class A drugs. That said, despite reclassification, it remains illegal to possess
cannabis." The
cannabis enforcement guidance will become operational in early 2004. ends
41/03 11th September 2003
For
more information please contact Valentine Murombe-Chivero or Lisa Vasco on 020
7227 3406/25. Notes
to Editors: Mr
Hayman will only be available for interviews in Norfolk at the following times:
Thursday 11th September, 3.30 to 4.30pm and 6.30 to 7.30pm.
Friday 12th
September, all morning till 11.00am and then from 12.00-2.00pm. | 
