The head of the UK’s largest police force has opposed the Mayor of London’s call to decriminalise some cannabis possession.
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00:00This week, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, backed calls for the possession of small quantities of natural cannabis to be decriminalised, saying current rules cannot be justified.
00:16He suggested a report by the Independent London Drugs Commission, published on Wednesday, a commission he founded in 2022, had provided a compelling evidence-based case for decriminalisation, and urged the government to consider the move.
00:38Of course, under current laws, cannabis is a Class B drug, and those found in possession face a fine or imprisonment.
00:49The head of the Metropolitan Police quickly came forward to say that he opposes the Mayor's call to decriminalise some cannabis possession.
01:00While he acknowledged that changing the law is a matter for Parliament, Sir Mark Rowley told the BBC how, at the moment, the force sees drugs being at the centre of a lot of crime.
01:16The government has also come out against decriminalisation, with Housing Communities and Local Government Minister Matthew Pennycook telling the Times Radio on Wednesday morning,
01:33the Mayor is obviously entitled to his view on the matter, but the government's position on cannabis classification remains unchanged.