How many of our resources are wasted in dealing with petty crime such as small-scale cannabis use?

Andree Frieze, Green Party London Assembly candidate, said:

"Police resources are wasted on the pursuit of small-scale cannabis offenders which does little to deter culprits from reoffending.

"County Durham diverted their police officers away from this mindset, which has corresponded with an overall reduction in recorded possession offences across the country, and the government must consider adopting more such approaches to bring about material change.

"Punishing people for the sake of it is ineffective. Instead, our society needs to deal with more underlying issues - the reasons why criminal offences happen in our cities, such as unemployment.

"An overhaul of the justice system centred on Green Party policies would see the creation of local, community-based policing and an investment in education. The use of draconian sentencing, CCTV cameras and stop and search policing must be changed.

"Restorative justice programmes have been proven to be better at preventing re-offending than short-term sentences. They work - so we would invest in them, to the benefit of our society. Every citizen has a right to feel safe when they are walking down the street."

"Let's make sure police time is spent on stopping the crimes that cause the most problems, and on catching criminals!' Jon Elkon, local co-ordinator of the Green Party said. 'Greens believe in a better, greener, safer London and a vote for Greens in the London Assembly will make all the difference!"

Now is the time - Greens are rising in popularity here and elsewhere in the world! Our concern for social, economic and environmental justice is expressed through our national and local policies. We believe fair is worth fighting for!

Promoted by Caroline Wren on behalf of the Richmond & Twickenham Green Party, 80 Fulwell Road, Teddington TW11 0RA.

Hounslow Green Party