London's police force said today it was going ahead with a pilot scheme telling police officers to take a more relaxed attitude towards cannabis possession.
Under the scheme, to be operated in the south London area of Lambeth, offenders caught with cannabis will be given a verbal warning rather than face an official caution or arrest.
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said the Lambeth scheme would be evaluated to see if it will be extended force-wide.
Under the scheme the cannabis will be seized and the found person carrying it must accept the warning otherwise they will be arrested.
In Britain a verbal warning is a less serious penalty than a formal caution. Currently courts can still jail offenders for cannabis possession.
Commander Brian Paddick, who devised the scheme, said the initiative would free police officers to focus on more serious drug-related crimes.
"I've never met anyone who had to commit crime to fund a cannabis habit, but crack cocaine users commit robbery, burglary and car crime," he was quoted as saying in the UK's Guardiannewspaper.
Scotland Yard's decision is likely to meet with disapproval from British politicians.
The main political parties are determined not to be seen as soft on drugs and are adamant cannabis should not be decriminalised.
PA