Chief vows to take tough line with drugs suspects around Bognor Regis

Inspector John Merrick said he made no apology for the tough-line approach of policemen and women towards those suspected of using and dealing in illegal substances.

"If a person is known for drugs, and we have reason to suspect

continuing drug activity, then that person will be liable to be searched on the streets under the misuse of drugs procedures.

"We will act on any information we receive in that regard as part of our intervention and enforcement action," he explained.

"There has to be a reason for us to search an individual and that

reason is given when the search takes place. "But everyone who is searched is treated exactly the same."

Insp Merrick said the police's power to stop and search extended to cannabis even when it was briefly downgraded to a class C drug.

His comments came after a former cannabis user from Bognor claimed he was being persecuted by the police.

The man, who asked not to be publicly identified, said that officers lacked commonsense and objectivity.

"Last year I was caught in possession of a very small amount of cannabis '“ nothing more than half a matchbox full '“ which I used to calm my severe depression and anxiety at times in which it became unbearable, for which I am under a specialist and a counsellor," he stated.

"Against the popular conception of the evil weed, this was something that helped to relax me and make me feel better for a long period of time without the often unpleasant symptoms I get from anti-depressants."

He claimed his co-operation, explanation and severe apology failed to prevent one of the officers involved threatening him with a prison sentence. He was eventually given a warning.

"Furthermore, ever since that time last year, I have not touched an illegal substance and never intend to again.

"Yet I am continually being stopped and searched in public more times than I wish to remember by the local police on the premise I look unwell and a bit dodgy.

"Constantly stopping and searching people is not going to defeat drugs," he stated.

"It certainly is a breach of my human rights that I feel I cannot leave my house without the police trying to persecute me wherever I go.

"Every time I am stopped I relay the same story to the officer only to have it thrown back in my face in disbelief."

The Observer reported at the beginning of May how the arrival of more police officers around Bognor was already seeing more warrants issued for the homes of suspected drug dealers.