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.”