Pilot scheme bids to scrap criminal sentences for young people caught with cannabis
Joe Lepper
Wednesday, January 5, 2022
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is looking to trial the scrapping of criminal sentences for young people caught in possession of cannabis to divert them away from the criminal justice system.
The trial is being developed for three out of London’s 32 boroughs and would only apply to young people aged between 18 to 24 caught in possession of a small amount of cannabis. The pilot would not apply to any other drugs, according to a Mayor of London spokesperson.
The three boroughs in which the scheme would apply has not yet been announced.
“The idea of the scheme, which is already used by other police forces across the country, would be to divert young people who are found with a small amount of cannabis away from the criminal justice system and instead provide help and support. This has been shown to reduce reoffending,” added the spokesperson.
“Reducing crime is the mayor’s top priority and he will continue to explore and implement the most effective solutions to help to divert young people away from drug use and crime for good.”
The proposed pilot is still in development and is awaiting approval from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC).
If approved the pilot, which is based on a similar scheme in Thames Valley, will be evaluated and could be rolled-out further.
The spokesperson denied that the Mayor of London is moving to decriminalise cannabis, which is “something that he does not have the power to do”.
However, he is planning to set up a London Drug Commission of independent experts to examine the effectiveness of drug laws, with a focus on cannabis.
According to YouGov most people in Britain support the legalisation of cannabis across the UK. This is supported by 52 per cent of Britons, compared with 32 per cent who are against legalising the drug.
Support is strongest among young people. Two thirds of 18- to 24-year-olds back the move, while 44 per cent of over 65s are against legalisation of cannabis.
Sadiq Khan is reportedly developing a plan to decriminalise minor cannabis offences in London.
— YouGov (@YouGov) January 5, 2022
By 52% to 32% Britons would support legalisation of the drug in the UK, with almost all age groups being of this opinionhttps://t.co/Ln7tD8GNhz pic.twitter.com/OaTfTNMGfN
Khan’s focus on offering support, rather than criminalising, young people caught in possession of cannabis, comes as former children’s commission for England Anne Longfield calls for better support for young people in care at risk of becoming involved in crime.
She says that England’s social care system is “unfit for purpose” and is not effectively supporting “the often chaotic lives of vulnerable teens” who are at risk of being targeted by criminal gangs.
Longfield also warns that the risk of criminal exploitation and involvement in violent crime is greater for young black boys due to “systemic racial bias in the system”.