Wiltshire PCC joins calls for “tougher stance” on cannabis
Philip Wilkinson says the substance is a gateway to harm and other drugs
The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Wiltshire and Swindon is backing calls to reclassify cannabis as a Class A drug.
This would place the substance in the same category as heroin and cocaine.
It follows concerns raised last week by Dorset PCC David Sidwick about the impact of cannabis on safety in rural communities.
Mr Wilkinson said: “I fully support calls for a tougher stance on cannabis – including the reclassification of it to a Class A drug. In Wiltshire, we see firsthand how cannabis cultivation and use are not isolated issues but are deeply intertwined with a spectrum of criminal activities.
“From anti-social behaviour and retail theft to more serious offences like modern slavery and human trafficking, cannabis often serves as a gateway drug and funding source for organised crime groups.”
Recent operations in Wiltshire, which targeted organised crime groups with involvement in drug production, saw more than 100kg of cannabis seized.
Operation Scorpion
They were part of a broader regional initiative, called Operation Scorpion, which includes the police forces from Wiltshire and Dorset as well as Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, and Gloucestershire.
The aim of Operation Scorpion is to disrupt drug networks across the South West and highlight the threats posed by drug-related crime, including cannabis.
Mr Wilkinson added: “The idea that cannabis is a harmless drug is a misconception. Its cultivation and distribution are often controlled by organised crime networks that exploit vulnerable individuals and perpetuate violence.
“County lines operations are the clearest example of how drug-related crime has extended its tentacles into our rural towns and villages. The notion that drug-related crime is only an urban issue is outdated and dangerously naive.”
Even though Operation Scorpion has shown success, Mr Wilkinson argued that “enforcement alone is not enough”.
The PCCs for both Wiltshire and Dorset would like to see a wide-spread approach “that recognises cannabis as the deeply harmful drug it is, and supports prevention, education, and treatment alongside policing.”
Mr Wilkson also called on local communities to “report any crimes in their area” to allow the police force to continuously take action.
The Government has insisted it has no plans to legalise cannabis.