Steep fall in cannabis offences points to silent relaxation of drugs policy
Police cite shrinking budgets and reduced stop and search, as possession offences recorded in England and Wales drop by almost a third
Sunday, October 18, 2015
 The number of cannabis possession offences in England and Wales has  plummeted since 2011 as forces divert shrinking budgets into tackling  more serious crime and officers rein in stop and search. Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act  reveal offences – including  penalty notices, cautions, charges and summons – fell by almost a third  from a peak of 145,400 in 2011-12 to 101,905 in 2014-15. The figures include all cannabis possession offences, not  just those that led to arrests or prosecutions. The fall in offences  cannot be explained by police opting for quick cautions over  lengthy prosecutions. (See also: The other green belt)
The number of cannabis possession offences in England and Wales has  plummeted since 2011 as forces divert shrinking budgets into tackling  more serious crime and officers rein in stop and search. Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act  reveal offences – including  penalty notices, cautions, charges and summons – fell by almost a third  from a peak of 145,400 in 2011-12 to 101,905 in 2014-15. The figures include all cannabis possession offences, not  just those that led to arrests or prosecutions. The fall in offences  cannot be explained by police opting for quick cautions over  lengthy prosecutions. (See also: The other green belt)


 
						


