Letter: Cannabis arrests

Sir: While it is hardly uncommon for political pressure to be applied to the police and the Crown Prosecution Service, it is increasingly uncommon for police to respond to possession of a small amount of cannabis (on a first offence) with any more than a caution. For Dawn Alford to be arrested and bailed until February while the CPS come to a decision on the case (report, 30 December) illustrates the extent to which the prosecution service is politicised.

DAVID MANNION

Colne, Lancashire