Just a FIFTH of people caught with cannabis face charges, figures reveal A FIFTH of people caught with cannabis in Avon and Somerset last year were charged, figures reveal. Campaigners say enforcement of the law dictating cannabis use is a postcode lottery and have called for possession of the drug to be decriminalised altogether. Home Office data shows that of 1,871 cannabis possession offences closed by Avon and Somerset Constabulary last year, 363 resulted in a charge or summons. That s a charge rate of 19%, although it excludes a further 489 offences that had not yet been assigned an outcome. Across England and Wales, there were 117,000 cannabis possession offences recorded in 2020 that had reached an outcome.
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Across England and Wales, there were 117,000 cannabis possession offences recorded in 2020 that had reached an outcome.
Of those, 17% ended in a charge – down from 21% in 2019.
The figures do not include Greater Manchester Police as it did not submit complete data.
North Wales Police recorded the highest charge rate, at 34%, while Surrey Police charged just 7% of offences.
Niamh Eastwood, executive director of drugs charity Release, said young people are disproportionately criminalised for having the drug, limiting their education and work opportunities.
“It is right that most people caught in possession are not charged and avoid the burden of a criminal record,” she added.
Nearly one quarter of people caught with cannabis in Lancashire last year were charged, figures reveal.
Campaigners say enforcement of the law dictating cannabis use is a “postcode lottery” and have called for possession of the drug to be decriminalised altogether.
Home Office data shows that of 1,019 cannabis possession offences closed by Lancashire Constabulary last year, 236 resulted in a charge or summons.
Nearly a quarter of people caught with cannabis in Lancashire charged
That’s a charge rate of 23 per cent, although it excludes a further 168 offences that had not yet been assigned an outcome.
Across England and Wales, there were 117,000 cannabis possession offences recorded in 2020 that had reached an outcome.