Sadiq Khan has come under heavy criticism after expressing his intention to decriminalise cannabis in the capital later this year.
Under plans drawn up by the Mayor of London, under-25s found with 14 grams of the drug in Lewisham, Bexley and Greenwich would be given courses or counselling instead of facing prosecution or time in police custody.
In response, a Government source told The Daily Telegraph: “2021 was the worst year for teenage killings in London, so decriminalising a major driver of youth violence probably isn’t the answer”.
Response
The Labour Mayor’s stance is in stark contrast to that of the UK Government and is not supported by party leader Sir Keir Starmer.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “We have absolutely no intention of decriminalising dangerous and harmful substances for recreational use. Decriminalisation would leave organised criminals in control, while risking an increase in drug use, which drives crime and violence which blights our streets.”
Starmer said he is “not in favour of us changing the law or decriminalisation”.
A spokesman for Khan denied that the scheme could be extended to other Class-B substances such as amphetamines.
10-year plan
At the end of 2021, the UK Government published its ten-year drugs strategy as a “blueprint for driving drugs out of our cities, towns and villages, and for ensuring that those affected get the help that they so badly need”.
The plan is a response to Dame Carol Black’s review for the Government on drugs misuse, and is intended to break drug supply chains, reduce demand and invest a further £780 million into treatment services.
Govt publishes 10-year plan to tackle drugs
Scot Govt Minister claims taking drugs ‘not inherently dangerous’
No 10: Pledge for cannabis review by London mayor ‘a waste of time’