Paddick experiment to end soon

Scotland Yard today announced it was ending the "softly-softly" cannabis experiment in Lambeth at the end of this month in the light of the Home Secretary's announcement.

The Lambeth scheme, which has caused furious controversy in Brixton, was launched by Commander Brian Paddick last year as a pilot scheme to allow police to focus their efforts more on Class-A drug dealers.

Within minutes of the Commons statement the Yard said it would introduce a new London-wide policy for dealing with people caught in possession of small amounts of cannabis.

The new approach appears to allow a tougher stance on cannabis use by police. In future even people who possess small amounts of the drug can face arrest.

Deputy Commissioner Ian Blair said he hoped the new policy would allow police "to maintain their authority on the street".

The pilot was proved to save roughly the equivalent of the time of two officers. However local people said it attracted more dealers into the area and encouraged younger people to start smoking cannabis.