POLICE IGNORE CANNABIS!

Cannabis user

Police will not take a tougher stance against those caught with cannabis if the Government changes it back to a Class B drug, it emerged last night.

The Association of Chief Police Officers said the current policy of a simple "ticking off" if caught with the drug would continue, despite Gordon Brown's determination to take personal responsibility for a tougher stance on the issue.

The Prime Minister has indicated he will reverse Labour's decision to downgrade cannabis to a class C drug in 2004.

Earlier this week, Mr Brown and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith agreed to reject the opinion of the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs on the issue, which said cannabis should remain a "soft" drug.

Chief constables may consider using fixed penalty fines as one form of punishment. But last night's announcement by ACPO indicates that officers will continue to let off people caught with small amounts of cannabis with a warning.

Guidance given by ACPO to its officers is expected to deviate away from existing guidelines. It will stress that constables will be able to take more robust action when dealing with repeat offenders or those involved in public disorder.

"The key will be the discretion for officers to strike the right balance," an ACPO spokesman told The Guardian.

"We do not want to criminalise young people who are experimenting."

Roger Howard, chief executive of the UK Drug Policy Commission, and a former drugs advisor, said: "There will be no new powers or resources for policing if cannabis is made class B, and cannabis warnings can still be issued instead of arrest."

Mr Brown is expected to press ahead with toughening up the cannabis laws despite claims there is no scientific basis for a change.

The Government is to reject recommendations from a high-powered group of advisers who believe it should stay a "soft" drug.

The Prime Minister is believed to regard the move as crucial for sending a clear message to young people that cannabis is harmful and linked to serious crime.

The experts from ACMD - including doctors, police, judges and drug counsellors - are understood to have concluded this week that cannabis should remain in the Class C category.

However, Whitehall sources have indicated that Mr Brown is determined to push through reclassification to Class B. (Police ignore cannabis)

DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT - JOIN NAVIGOR TODAY !