Tougher action on cannabis – Home Office
“When cannabis is reclassified as a Class B drug in 2009, those who continually break the law will face tougher penalties.”
Home Office, 15th October 2008
Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Category: drug offences
Mother was seduced by 14-year-old boy, says judge – Daily Telegraph
“A judge allowed a mother who had sex with a 14-year-old boy to walk free, saying that the boy seduced her.”
Daily Telegraph, 14th October 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
New penalties for cannabis users announced – The Guardian
“Cannabis users face new penalties when the drug is upgraded to class B from January next year, the home secretary said today.”
The Guardian, 13th October 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Pensioner caught with £1,300 cocaine in handbag escapes jail – Daily Telegraph
“A 77-year-old pensioner caught with £1,300 of cocaine in her handbag has escaped jail after telling a judge she used it to treat pneumonia.”
Daily Telegraph, 10th October 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Drugs classification should be scrapped, experts say – Daily Telegraph
“A leading think-tank has called for the Government’s system of drugs classification to be scrapped.”
Daily Telegraph, 22nd September 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
City workers who supplied cocaine to bankers jailed – Daily Telegraph
“Two former City workers who supplied high-flying investment bankers and traders with thousands of pounds worth of cocaine have been jailed.”
Daily Telegraph, 22nd September 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Government drug advisers begin review of ecstasy’s class A status – The Guardian
“The government’s drug advisers will begin a review of the classification of ecstasy next week, raising the prospect that the drug could be downgraded from class A.”
The Guardian, 17th September 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Ex-drugs policy director calls for legalisation – The Guardian
“A former senior civil servant who was responsible for coordinating the government’s anti-drugs policy now believes that legalisation would be less harmful than the current strategy. Julian Critchley, the former director of the Cabinet Office’s anti-drugs unit, also said that his views were shared by the ‘overwhelming majority’ of professionals in the field, including police officers, health workers and members of the government.”
The Guardian, 13th August 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Convicted drug dealers banned from owning more than one mobile phone – Daily Telegraph
“Four convicted drug dealers have become the first criminals in England and Wales to be banned from owning or using more than one mobile telephone, under new police powers.”
Daily Telegraph, 17th July 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Appeal court quashes hydroponic cannabis convictions – The Guardian
“A court of appeal decision has shone a light on the homegrown cannabis industry. The quashing of the convictions of three men involved in hydroponics comes at a time when cultivation of cannabis in the UK is at record levels.”
The Guardian, 14th July 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Specialist drug courts ‘working’ – BBC News
“Specialist courts which deal only with drugs offenders are proving a success, the government has said.”
BBC News, 28th May 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Home Office considers downgrading ecstasy – Daily Telegraph
“The legal status of Ecstasy could be reviewed, the Home Office said.”
Daily Telegraph, 21st May 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Cannabis laws to be strengthened – The Independent
” Jacqui Smith defied the Government’s own experts today by announcing that laws on cannabis will be toughened up.”
The Independent, 7th May 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Reefer madness: Do the drug laws work? – The Independent
“Defying the weight of medical and scientific opinion, Gordon Brown is to order tougher new laws today on cannabis possession. The Prime Minister has decided to overrule his own expert advisers and reverse the downgrading four years ago of Britain’s favourite illegal drug from a class B to a class C substance, threatening cannabis smokers with five-year prison terms.”
The Independent, 7th May 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Police resist tougher action on cannabis – Daily Telegraph
“Police will not toughen their approach to cannabis when ministers upgrade the legal status of the drug to class B, it has been disclosed.”
Daily Telegraph, 1st May 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Brown warned that cannabis decision may face legal challenge – The Guardian
“Gordon Brown’s decision to overturn the advice of his own group of drug experts by pressing ahead with a tougher policy on cannabis could face a high court challenge from campaigners.”
The Guardian, 29th April 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Rastafarian temple drugs trial collapses – The Guardian
“A £100,000 cannabis-dealing trial, launched following a high-profile police raid on a Rastafarian temple in south London, has collapsed in legal confusion.”
The Guardian, 8th April 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Cannabis: tough penalties on way after another change of mind – The Times
“Gordon Brown is preparing to overrule the advice of the Government’s drug advisory body and upgrade cannabis to a Class B drug, carrying tougher penalties for its possession.”
The Times, 4th April, 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Straw confirms expansion of dedicated drugs courts – Ministry of Justice
“Jack Straw has confirmed that drug courts, dedicated to tackling drug misuse and related crime, are to be extended to up to four more magistrates’ courts.”
Ministry of Justice, 1st April 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Dedicated drug court pilots: a process report – Ministry of Justice
“In December 2005, the then Department of Constitutional Affairs announced a commitment to pilot Dedicated Drug Courts as part of the government’s agenda to reduce drug-related crime.
Matrix Knowledge Group has produced an independent process evaluation of the pilots in England and Wales: Leeds Magistrates’ Court and West London Magistrates’ Court.”
Dedicated drug court pilots – a process report (PDF)
Ministry of Justice, 31st March 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
