One story about it here.
Specifically, my question is what is the range of punishment that the police/prosecutors have available to them. According to the story, the punishment might nothing more than a warning, but police retain the power to arrest. If they choose to do so, what punishment could they levy?
For the sake of simplicity, let’s say we’re talking about possession of a few grams with no evidence of intent to distribute.
I’m presuming that the power to arrest implies the power to more seriously punish. Is this correct?
Briefly, it’s being reclassified from Class B to Class C. Maximum sentence is 2 years for possession, but you’re more likely to have it confiscated and get a warning for possession of small quantities.
BBC News have a Q&A page here.
Thank you, dylan_73, for correcting my misstatement of the current and proposed future classification.
But your cite seems directly at odds with mine in one respect. My AP cite quotes Blair as saying:
"The power to arrest remains, but what reclassification does is allow the police, where they think it right, to focus on hard drug dealing and drug dealing of any description, including cannabis, and that is why the proposals are supported by the chief police officers and the Metropolitan Police."
Your BBC site says:
"The only real difference is that you will not be arrested and hauled off to the police station if you are found to be in possession of small quantities of the drug.
Instead, you will be given a warning, a caution or sent a court summons later."
Can someone provide some additional clarification?
I read about this somewhere - might have been the on-line Telegraph.
The police will have guidelines to follow on when to arrest people - basically when there are particular circumstances making the offense more serious than would otherwise be the case. Thus, someone smoking a joint in a quiet corner of the park will not be arrested. Someone doing it outside the entrance to a school might be.
Yes, it’s left to the discretion of the police. Previously, they were supposed to arrest anyone they found with any amount. Now they can let them off with a warning, or fine. You’ll still get locked up if you’re wandering about with a suitcase full of the stuff though. 