UK - Children no longer face automatic arrest for cannabis possession (UK)

[Lunar Loops]

Good to see David Davis towing the prohibitionist line at the end of the article and backing it up with facts.....oh dear.....this from The ToryGraph (UK):
Children no longer face automatic arrest for cannabis possession


By John Steele, Crime Correspondent

Last Updated: 1:55am GMT 24/01/2007





Children caught in possession of cannabis will no longer automatically be arrested.
Legal changes aimed at making arrests "compliant" with human rights legislation have led police to scrapping the old guidelines, prompting accusations of a "dangerous signal" being sent to youngsters about drugs.
After cannabis was down-graded from a Class B to a non-arrestable Class C drug three years ago, police chiefs successfully lobbied the Government to preserve the right of arrest in cases with "aggravating factors."
One such factor was possession by a juvenile - aged 17 and under, but over 10. Officers were told by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) to arrest under-17s found in possession so they could be dealt with under a system of cautions, reprimands and final warnings available under anti-crime and disorder legislation.
However, the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (Socpa), which came into force last year, empowered officers to arrest for any suspected offence as long as they could justify the detention as "necessary" and proportionate. This "necessity test" reflected the provisions of the 1998 Human Rights Act, which incorporated European human rights law into English law.
Acpo has now replaced the previous guidance that juvenile possession should lead to automatic arrest with advice that it "may" lead to arrest if necessary.
The guidance states: "Consideration should be given to less intrusive means if possible such as taking the young person home, verifying their name and address and referring the case for a disposal decision."
The shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, said: "This is a dangerous signal to send young people about what is a dangerous drug. Today's cannabis is 10 times stronger than it was 20 years ago. It can cause serious mental illness."

[darawk]

Legal changes aimed at making arrests "compliant" with human rights legislation

Is he serious?

[Riconoen {UGC}]

If only the Us would follow in the UK's footsteps on this....

[Lunar Loops]

Originally Posted by Riconoen {UGC}

If only the Us would follow in the UK's footsteps on this....

It's not really that different. SWIY's can still be arrested and it is entirely up to the discretion of the officer involved. If the Conservatives get in at the next election in the UK it will all change for the worse....in fact it may all change for the worse anyway when Blair finally vacates the hot seat.

[andersite]

in swims experience unless you were dealing NO one gets arrseted for weed. maybe if your carrying bags of the stuff. also if any one reading this cares to avoid an arrest swim should (in the case they are in deep trouble with some weed) say its yours but you dont know what it is you just found it on the floor. you dont get done for dealing and it will cost the police a bit to test it plus ALOT of paperwork. this can work for unknown white powders aswell. hope that helps anyone in the future. definatley helped swim

[High_Roller]

SWIM got "caught" a couple weeks ago (he lives in the US) and wasn't arrested..although it was only a small amount and a pipe.

[Bikelbees]

It does appear sensible, but you can bet your bottom dollar that the police will be edging in for ever greater involvement into the family, take them home, get a cup of tea in the lounge and have a nice chat with the family about how this nice child has been so silly and must promise not to do it ever again and how little Jonny's friends are a bad influence. Refusing to get into this will result in social services being contacted and of course records will be kept.

[Alicia]

Originally Posted by Bikelbees

It does appear sensible, but you can bet your bottom dollar that the police will be edging in for ever greater involvement into the family, take them home, get a cup of tea in the lounge and have a nice chat with the family about how this nice child has been so silly and must promise not to do it ever again and how little Jonny's friends are a bad influence. Refusing to get into this will result in social services being contacted and of course records will be kept.

And what a scary reality that is too..

[Bikelbees]

Good to see David Davis is keeping up with the facts by browsing the Independent on Sunday.