IDS slams drug trial in Brixton

Iain Duncan Smith will visit Brixton today to speak out against the "softly-softly" drugs experiment by police in Lambeth.

The Tory leader will meet community leaders to highlight fears that drug dealers have targeted the borough since police stopped arresting cannabis users.

David Blunkett will tell MPs tomorrow he will effectively decriminalise cannabis by downgrading it from Class B to Class C. The Lambeth pilot scheme has proved controversial since its introduction a year ago by Commander Brian Paddick.

Scotland Yard says it has released officers to spend more time fighting other crimes, and street crime in Lambeth has fallen dramatically. However, the Tories support claims by residents' groups and local Labour MP Kate Hoey that drug dealers have taken control since the trial was launched.

Cannabis users caught in Lambeth with a small amount of the drug are given a warning by police and have the substance confiscated, rather than being prosecuted.