Comments on: Jack Straw: We Made a Mistake http://timworstall.com/2007/09/25/jack-straw-we-made-a-mistake/ It is all obvious or trivial except... Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:09:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jim Keenan http://timworstall.com/2007/09/25/jack-straw-we-made-a-mistake/comment-page-1/#comment-185 Jim Keenan Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:21:50 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2007/09/25/jack-straw-we-made-a-mistake/#comment-185 The damage that re-classification of cannabis caused at the time of de-classification was that, under the legislation then pertaining, possession of cannabis was no longer an arrestable offence. This led to a perception that police wouldn't take action, based in no small part on the guidance given to officers by the Home Office pointing out that it was no longer an arrestable offence. Move on to the current situation, in which all offences - no matter how trivial - are now arrestable, (for the efficient and effective investigation of the offence, i.e. it's more convienient to the police), and re-classification makes no difference whatsoever. The vast majority of cannabis cases are dealt with by way of informal caution, i.e. confiscation and a bollocking - properly documented of course, and re-classification won't affect that in any way. This is an example of 'Security Theatre.' An empty show that has no effect upon the real world, like parking a tank at the front door of Heathrow. The damage that re-classification of cannabis caused at the time of de-classification was that, under the legislation then pertaining, possession of cannabis was no longer an arrestable offence. This led to a perception that police wouldn’t take action, based in no small part on the guidance given to officers by the Home Office pointing out that it was no longer an arrestable offence.

Move on to the current situation, in which all offences – no matter how trivial – are now arrestable, (for the efficient and effective investigation of the offence, i.e. it’s more convienient to the police), and re-classification makes no difference whatsoever. The vast majority of cannabis cases are dealt with by way of informal caution, i.e. confiscation and a bollocking – properly documented of course, and re-classification won’t affect that in any way.

This is an example of ‘Security Theatre.’ An empty show that has no effect upon the real world, like parking a tank at the front door of Heathrow.

]]> By: Mark Wadsworth http://timworstall.com/2007/09/25/jack-straw-we-made-a-mistake/comment-page-1/#comment-180 Mark Wadsworth Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:46:27 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2007/09/25/jack-straw-we-made-a-mistake/#comment-180 Hear hear. Hear hear.

]]> By: Alex http://timworstall.com/2007/09/25/jack-straw-we-made-a-mistake/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Alex Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:09:12 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2007/09/25/jack-straw-we-made-a-mistake/#comment-178 Hear hear! Although you actually pull a punch in the last line - it is threatening 20 million man years in jail for 450 cases of psychosis a year that people have brought upon themselves. Drugs laws in this country, and pretty much all the western world, are the most bizarrely indefensible of all stupid laws that exist - and that is a hell of a lot. Hear hear! Although you actually pull a punch in the last line – it is threatening 20 million man years in jail for 450 cases of psychosis a year that people have brought upon themselves.

Drugs laws in this country, and pretty much all the western world, are the most bizarrely indefensible of all stupid laws that exist – and that is a hell of a lot.

]]>