UK - Cannabis trade worse than that of Class A drugs, senior police officer warns

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edgarshade

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Telegraph

By Martin Evans, Crime Correspondent
7:35PM BST 11 Sep 2012

Sentences for the growing and selling of cannabis must be toughened to stem a growing tide in gang-related violence, a senior police officer has warned.

Assistant chief constable Andy Ward of Merseyside police said hardened criminals were taking advantage of more lenient penalties for cannabis dealing compared with drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine and heroin. He warned that there had been an “explosion” in cannabis production and said it was now causing more problems for the police than the trade in some class A narcotics. The North West region in particular has already seen the consequences of a rise in tension between criminal gangs, with a surge in the number of shootings in recent months. Mr Ward, who chairs the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, said gangs were attracted to the lucrative cannabis market because they saw it as less risky both in terms of getting caught and also the punishments they might receive if convicted. But he said the violence that accompanied the drug trade was just as extreme, with criminals willing to wound and kill to protect their corner of the market.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...lass-A-drugs-senior-police-officer-warns.html

Guardian version with reader comments...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/sep/11/cannabis-trade-rise-gun-violence
 
Perhaps we should ban legitimate business so that hardened criminals can't do that either 8(
 
That's right make harsher penalties to drive the price up and make it more profitable for the gangs involved.

That makes sense.
 
They should increase all sentences and incarcerate all the dealers' associates as well. Upon release, besmirch their records in such a way that they can never gain employment and are relegated to living the rest of their lives in poverty. This will definatly halt the shootingz!
 
How is it that the less sense you seem to have, logic , common sense etc the further up in command people seem to go?
 
Daily Mail

Police: 'Explosion' in cannabis trade is being fuelled by gangs who know they'll get lenient sentences
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By Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor
PUBLISHED: 15:12, 12 September 2012

  • Senior Merseyside officer says cannabis trade now worse than that for Class A drugs
  • Calls for tougher punishments from the courts
  • North West police have found 5,000 cannabis factories with 350,000 plants in the last three years

Lenient sentences are fuelling the cannabis trade which is now more serious than dealers of Class A drugs, a senior police officer has warned. Andy Wards, assistant chief constable for Merseyside police, revealed there had been an ‘explosion’ in production of cannabis causing serious problems for officers. Gangs were exploiting the cannabis market believing they are less likely to be caught and if they are they will receive softer sentences.

Anyone caught dealing Class B drugs, including cannabis, face a maximum prison sentence of up to 14 years or an unlimited fine, compared to life in prison for dealing class A drugs such as cocaine or ecstasy.

Mr Ward said: ‘There has been an explosion in the market for cannabis. Unlike class A drugs, which the criminals can’t make themselves, there is the opportunity to grow cannabis in the bathrooms or bedrooms of houses. ‘They can make a lot of money very quickly at less risk [to themselves] and less risk in terms of sentencing.’
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...lled-gangs-know-theyll-lenient-sentences.html
 
Only after marijuana dealers and smokers are off the streets and in prison, will our streets be safe.
 
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