The Wiltshire Police commissioner has backed controversial calls to reclassify cannabis as a Class A drug – a move that would place it in the same category as heroin and crack cocaine.
Philip Wilkinson says tougher laws are needed to curb the growing impact of cannabis on crime and safety in rural Wiltshire, echoing remarks made earlier this week by Dorset PCC David Sidwick.
“I fully support calls for a tougher stance on cannabis – including the reclassification of it to a Class A drug”, he said.
“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 across the county have revealed the scale of the issue. Police seized over 100kg of cannabis during a coordinated crackdown on organised crime groups.
The raids, which led to multiple arrests and the discovery of weapons, were part of the region-wide Operation Scorpion.
Operation Scorpion unites police forces and PCCs from Wiltshire, Dorset, Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, and Gloucestershire in a joint effort to dismantle county lines drug networks and sever the supply chain at its roots.
Mr Wilkinson said: “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 The notion that drug-related crime is only an urban issue is outdated and dangerously naive.”
He stressed that enforcement must go hand-in-hand with prevention, education and treatment. Reclassifying cannabis, he said, would make a strong statement about the drug’s impact.
“Operation Scorpion has shown the power of collective regional enforcement in disrupting criminal activity. But enforcement alone is not enough – we also need national drug policy that recognises cannabis as the deeply harmful drug it is.”
Mr Wilkinson urged the public to keep reporting suspicious activity.
He said: “My appeal to them is to report any crimes in their area, so the police can collaboratively work together using intelligence to proactively disrupt those targeting our communities and causing harm.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has endorsed the partial decriminalisation of cannabis possession, following recommendations from the independent London Drugs Commission (LDC), which he established in 2022.
The commission, led by former justice secretary Lord Falconer, suggests that possession of small quantities of natural cannabis for personal use should no longer be a criminal offence.
The report argues that current laws disproportionately affect ethnic minority communities and strain police-community relations.
