420 Cannabis Picnic - Why So Many Police ?
Discussion
So I walked into Hyde Park from Marble Arch on Wednesday and was surprised to see 30 - 40 plod some with dogs. There were also signs saying that cannabis was illegal and amnesty buckets placed at the entrance to the park.
What I saw in the park were lots of young people enjoying some music, chatting and yes they were smoking. The smell of the weed reminded me of a misspent youth.
Seriously was this a good use of police resources?
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/apr/21/tho...
What I saw in the park were lots of young people enjoying some music, chatting and yes they were smoking. The smell of the weed reminded me of a misspent youth.
Seriously was this a good use of police resources?
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/apr/21/tho...
So a large group of people openly break the law and the police shouldnt react?
If a large group of people decided that they disagreed with the motorway speed limit so they would protest it by having a mass time attack lap attempt of the m25, would you find this ok?
I have no problem with anyone smoking weed (or speeding) but doing it so blatantly is asking for trouble. The police dont make the laws, just enforce them
All IMHO
If a large group of people decided that they disagreed with the motorway speed limit so they would protest it by having a mass time attack lap attempt of the m25, would you find this ok?
I have no problem with anyone smoking weed (or speeding) but doing it so blatantly is asking for trouble. The police dont make the laws, just enforce them
All IMHO
Seems right to me:
"We will be leaning more towards cannabis warnings,” said one, “but obviously if we see a high level of criminality – people dealing, smoking bongs – then we will act. There are children around in the park.”"
Mass organised disobedience needs policing... sounds like they were exercising some discretion and not being heavy handed.
"We will be leaning more towards cannabis warnings,” said one, “but obviously if we see a high level of criminality – people dealing, smoking bongs – then we will act. There are children around in the park.”"
Mass organised disobedience needs policing... sounds like they were exercising some discretion and not being heavy handed.
1 Arrest for class A drugs, the rest were for cannabis:-
the end of the day, one 27-year-old woman had been arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a class A substance, 19 people were arrested for possession of cannabis and 12 more were issued with cannabis warnings, according to the Met.
the end of the day, one 27-year-old woman had been arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a class A substance, 19 people were arrested for possession of cannabis and 12 more were issued with cannabis warnings, according to the Met.
A no win situations for the police. Whatever number they choose they will be criticised for too few officers so the police aren't doing their job. Others will criticise them (see this example) for having too many.
The thing with mass disobedience is that it is mass. There is no way the police could arrest everyone in possession so they have to show that they are taking it seriously, but not so that they will be criticised for being heavy handed.
Whether the numbers are spot on or two many/few will depend on individual perceptions. From the police point of view they got it spot on as they have limits.
The police are often criticised from both 'sides' as to their response so there's little chance of coming to a decision that will suit all.
The thing with mass disobedience is that it is mass. There is no way the police could arrest everyone in possession so they have to show that they are taking it seriously, but not so that they will be criticised for being heavy handed.
Whether the numbers are spot on or two many/few will depend on individual perceptions. From the police point of view they got it spot on as they have limits.
The police are often criticised from both 'sides' as to their response so there's little chance of coming to a decision that will suit all.
I personally believe that cannabis should be legalised,controlled and taxed, but the simple fact is until this happens, the police need to take action against people who flout the law.
The people who were arrested and not given a street caution were most likely repeat offenders or had quantitys in excess of what can be dealt with by a caution.
The people who were arrested and not given a street caution were most likely repeat offenders or had quantitys in excess of what can be dealt with by a caution.
bad company said:
Contact police to report your car or bike stolen and invariably there is nobody available to react BUT a harmless event like this and 30 - 40 plod, no problem.
They were nicking the odd person seemingly selected by the dogs or at random.
it is hardly harmless, having witnessed the mental damage and dependency caused by "its only weed", it is anything but a bit of harmless fun.They were nicking the odd person seemingly selected by the dogs or at random.
PH XKR said:
it is hardly harmless, having witnessed the mental damage and dependency caused by "its only weed", it is anything but a bit of harmless fun.
So some people take it too far. So what? Alcohol is legal. That causes a LOT more damage than a few misguided folks with underlying mental health issues who smoke weed daily from about 12 years old.PH XKR said:
it is hardly harmless, having witnessed the mental damage and dependency caused by "its only weed", it is anything but a bit of harmless fun.
Is it possible to be dependent on weed? I'd think there would have to be some quite deep-seated mental conditions for that to be true?PH XKR said:
bad company said:
Contact police to report your car or bike stolen and invariably there is nobody available to react BUT a harmless event like this and 30 - 40 plod, no problem.
They were nicking the odd person seemingly selected by the dogs or at random.
it is hardly harmless, having witnessed the mental damage and dependency caused by "its only weed", it is anything but a bit of harmless fun.They were nicking the odd person seemingly selected by the dogs or at random.
Anything can screw your mind up if you're that way inclined. I know of people that have been smoking for 30+ years and they are most definitely not mentally damaged. There are a LOT of people in the higher echelons of society that smoke and nobody knows.
budgie smuggler said:
No they don't they could simply ignore it (sorry, I mean follow their 'triage' process) like they do with 90% of bike thefts.
https://stolen-bikes.co.uk/police-forces-fail-to-i...
Ignore mass disobedience of the law? https://stolen-bikes.co.uk/police-forces-fail-to-i...
Its not as if it was wee jimmy getting home from a hard night shift and having a joint in front of his playstation, it was an organised event where a group of people met up to break the law.
AH33 said:
PH XKR said:
it is hardly harmless, having witnessed the mental damage and dependency caused by "its only weed", it is anything but a bit of harmless fun.
So some people take it too far. So what? Alcohol is legal. That causes a LOT more damage than a few misguided folks with underlying mental health issues who smoke weed daily from about 12 years old.Peace man
PH XKR said:
Alcohol is easily available so there is a lot more use, I wont condone removing alcohol as the populace needs a relase but anyone trying to say "uh alcohol causes so much more damage" without taking into account that you smoke weed, we know the damage caused by smoking is just as bad but on top of just smoking tobacco, weed can and does lead to psychosis and dependancy but thats an inconvenient truth to brush under the carpet.
Peace man
Nobody denies that smoking weed can cause issues but I guarantee, you have 100 people that are addicted to alcohol and 100 that are addicted to cannabis, the ones with the alcohol dependancy will be in a worse place and frame of mind and have had more issues because of it. Peace man
DuncsGTi said:
PH XKR said:
it is hardly harmless, having witnessed the mental damage and dependency caused by "its only weed", it is anything but a bit of harmless fun.
In the same vein as alcohol, hence my views on legalisation and controlYou could make the same argument about any number of things that have the potential to cause harm but are legal, such as driving.
The majority of people who smoke cannabis do so without any long term side effects, the same as with alcohol.
I'd legalise and control it.
However in this case it is up to the Police to enforce the law as it currently syands and as such they had to make their presence felt.
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