Police Reaction to Pot Smokers a "Cop Out".
Police Reaction to Pot Smokers a "Cop Out".
Organisers of Saturdays Police Station prohibition protest are unsatisfied with the police reaction to Saturday’s smoke in, when around 70 Dunedin people openly smoked cannabis outside and inside of the Dunedin Central Police Station. On duty officers let protestors continue smoking, but have still not explained why.
“The police response to Saturday's action was a cop out. Police proved that they’ve got better things to do than bust cannabis smokers, but they still won’t admit that.” Said Dunedin law reform advocate Duncan Eddy.
“English and Scottish police have publicly declared their desire to stop arresting cannabis users so they can focus on real crime. Serious crime is on the increase in New Zealand, and police are increasingly stressed and overworked, while thousands of people are still being charged for minor cannabis offences.”
“We’d like
police to stop arresting cannabis users altogether. They
should be brave enough to at least discuss the issue.”