Editing Brixton (section)

===Brian Paddick===
In 2001, [[Brian Paddick, Baron Paddick|Brian Paddick]], then [[Commander#British police rank|Police Commander]] for the [[London Borough of Lambeth]], became subject of newspaper headlines due to the implementation of a pilot [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] programme in Brixton, also known as the "softly softly" approach, as well as his posts made on the Brixton-based [[Urban75]] [[internet forum]]. Police officers were instructed not to arrest or charge people who were found to be in possession of cannabis. They were instead to issue on-the-spot warnings and confiscate the drugs. Although Paddick is credited with the idea, the pilot programme was sanctioned by the [[Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis]], [[John Stevens, Baron Stevens of Kirkwhelpington|Sir John Stevens]]. Paddick asserts that he implemented the policy because he wanted his officers to deal with cannabis quickly and informally so that they could concentrate on heroin and [[crack cocaine]] offences, and street robbery and burglary, which were affecting the quality of life in Lambeth to a greater extent.<ref name="Guardian: Out But Not Down">{{cite news |last=Moss |first=Stephen |title=The Man Who Would be Mayor &#91;print version: Out But Not Down&#93; |url=https://www.theguardian.com/g2/story/0,,2171412,00.html |work=[[The Guardian]] (g2) |date=18 September 2007 |pages=12–15 |location=London |access-date=27 March 2010 |archive-date=16 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616042232/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/sep/18/liberaldemocrats.interviews |url-status=live }}</ref> The pilot was ended December 2005 and was replaced by a so-called "no deal" policy on cannabis in Brixton following complaints about increasing numbers of dealers openly selling the drug.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bennetto |first=Jason |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/brixton-moves-from-softly-softly-to-zero-tolerance-on-cannabis-517648.html |title=Brixton moves from 'softly softly' to zero tolerance on cannabis |work=The Independent |date=1 December 2005 |location=London |access-date=25 August 2017 |archive-date=6 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706182932/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/brixton-moves-from-softly-softly-to-zero-tolerance-on-cannabis-517648.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Paddick had been a sergeant on the front line during the [[1981 Brixton riot]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Hopkins |first=Nick |title=Trials and Errors of Controversial Cop: How Onslaught by Critics Took its Toll of Ambitious Gay Police Chief |url=https://www.theguardian.com/Archive/Article/0,4273,4376924,00.html |work=The Guardian |date=19 March 2002 |location=London |access-date=27 March 2010 |archive-date=16 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616042233/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/mar/19/ukcrime.nickhopkins |url-status=live }}</ref> an experience which shaped his attitudes about confrontational police action and strengthened his belief in [[community policing]].<ref>''The Battle for Brixton'', an April 2006 [[BBC Two|BBC2]] documentary.</ref> In December 2000 he was appointed [[Police Commander]] for Lambeth, where he worked until December 2002,<ref name="Guardian: Brian Paddick">{{cite news |last=Dodd |first=Vikram |title=The Guardian Profile : Brian Paddick |url=https://www.theguardian.com/crime/article/0,,1095211,00.html |work=The Guardian |date=28 November 2003 |location=London |access-date=27 March 2010 |archive-date=16 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616042233/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/nov/28/gayrights.ukcrime |url-status=live }}</ref> fulfilling his ambition of becoming head of policing in Brixton.<ref name="BrianPaddick4London">{{cite web |title=About Brian |url=http://www.brianpaddick4london.net/mayor/ |website=BrianPaddick4London.net |date=9 September 2007 |access-date=22 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012034851/http://brianpaddick4london.net/mayor/ |archive-date=12 October 2007}}</ref> Paddick gained much support from the local community for his approach to policing and addressed a rally in his support in March 2002, leading Dominic Casciani from the BBC to comment:
<blockquote>If someone had said just five years ago that black, white, young and old, straight and gay, liberal and anarchist would all be standing together giving a standing ovation to a police commander in Brixton, people might have said they had smoked one spliff too many.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/1896527.stm |title=BBC.co.uk |work=BBC News |date=27 March 2002 |first=Dominic |last=Casciani |access-date=8 July 2008 |archive-date=2 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080702045733/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/1896527.stm |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>