About Me
Peter Reynolds is a writer, consultant, proud Welshman, president of CLEAR and an expert in the science, medicine, law and politics of cannabis.
Starting as an advertising copywriter, Peter worked as a creative director in some of London’s leading ad agencies through the 1980s. He developed special expertise in healthcare and medical markets, worked as consultant to many NHS organisations, pharmaceutical companies and as a medical journalist.
His interest in cannabis started as a teenage experiment but quickly moved into politics. He first gave evidence on the subject to Parliament in 1983 and has contributed to every Parliamentary inquiry since. In 2011 he was elected leader of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance which, using his expertise in marketing, he rebranded and relaunched as CLEAR Cannabis Law Reform, initially as a political party. He stood as a parliamentary candidate in the 2012 Corby by-election.
CLEAR is now the longest established cannabis group in the UK with a follower base and membership that exceeds all other UK drugs policy groups combined. He has spoken at many conferences and debates including the Oxford Union. In a famous series of six debates at universities he went head to head with Peter Hitchens, winning all except one.
Currently, as well as his role in CLEAR and CannaPro, the trade association for the UK’s medicinal cannabis, CBD and hemp businesses, he works as a consultant to several major international companies on cannabis licensing, marketing and product development.
Peter Reynolds 
Hello,
I just saw your son on This Morning. I am currently writing and compiling a book aimed at young adults which I would love to feature Evan in.
Would you be kind enough to pass on my email address or inform me of the correct point of contact.
Kind Regards,
Sophie Eggleton
Sophie Eggleton
June 30, 2008 at 10:47 am
Dear Mr Reynolds,
My youngest son Luke who is 16 was born with a deformed hand and I was fascinated by your sons Bionic Hand. Is it possible you could give me some information.
Caroline Madden
June 30, 2008 at 12:18 pm
I love your site. Keep it up !
knowledgetoday
March 24, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Hi Peter,
I just wanted to invite you to participate in a brand new political blogging and social networking tool called http://www.PollBooth.com
The site is currently closed to the general public, only politicians, journalists and bloggers such as yourself will be invited to join for the time being.
If you wish to participate prior to the public launch just add pollbooth.com to your links on your wordpress blog then send an email to request.invite@pollbooth.com including the webaddress of your current blog and if approved I’ll send you an official invitation code allowing you to register on the site.
I hope to hear from you shortly and if not apologies for contacting you.
Regards,
Thom
thomclarke
May 15, 2009 at 5:05 am
Your Jew-hating tirade obiously dismisses 10,000 Hamas rockets from Gaza, which voted in to keep the war against the Jews going.
No sympathy for them and why the rest of the Arab world wants none of them in their lands either.
You can’t make peace with someone who wants to kill you. It’s you or them. That you are so far up their behind reveals your Jew-hating bias. We aren’t going into those gas chambers again and we are taking everyone with us this time. Got i? We don;t have to kiss your behind or those of the Islamic Nazis alligned with Hitler in WWII with the Muftil of Jerusalem, who cowardly deny the Holocaust but want to finish the job and the only reason any Arabs side with them is that they are the proxies to keep the war going against the Jews. England’s warped anti-semitism has a very long history. You wouldn’t even allow the Jews to go to Palestine before the Holocaust, you wouldn’t even bomb the rail lines into the death camps, you put survivors in your own concentration camps in Cyprus, you allowed thousands of Nazis murdereres into England and to escape punishment, including 125 ‘Einsatzgrupen’ murderers and never put on trial and then you pontificate as to your country’s miserable betrayal of the Jews when you gave what the League of Nations had given to the Jews for help in WWII against the Turks and gave it to form Jordan, while doing everything possible to undermine the Jews on every level with your obsession with Arab oil over Jewish blood. We don’t need or want your Jew-hating support and we certainly aren’t going to let the Islamic Nazis get away with anything either, although they’ve managed Sharia law in England while you bow down to all of their demands. You are a sad picture of honesty to be pointing any fingers against Israel and the Jewish nation and never mentioning anything wrong about the Islamic Nazis. You’re like Obama in Cairo, equating the “Holocaust” with “Muslim Humiliation”, while cowardly ignoring 5 Arab wars and 2 Intifadas to kill all the Jews and take all their properties and make the land Jew-free, that’s been Jewish for 5000 yrs. and to divide Jerusalem, Jewish for 3000 yrs. and give it to the very people dancing in the streets after ‘9/11’. Yes, the British haven’t a pair of balls between them other than those who aren’t blinded by their own Jew-hating politics.
bob kunst
April 6, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Of course the Hamas rockets are wrong but Israel’s response is so utterly disproprtionate that it is a war crime in itself. From being the victim of the world’s greatest ever crime against humanity, Israel has become as big and cowardly a bully as the world has ever seen.
I don’t hate the Jews but I despise, revile and condemn the behaviour of Israel. I also condemn the great evil that Islam has become. My own country is far from blameless but we saved the world in the last century and helped to create Israel though you are both graceless and ungrateful for this.
Peter Reynolds
May 5, 2010 at 6:20 pm
I note “defend Jerusalem” link left by Bob, is non functioning.
@Peter, truly well stated, you are a gifted writer, carry on!
Rufus York
October 17, 2014 at 10:15 am
Rather than openly criticising the government’s disproportionate response, how about offering even 2 or 3 alternative suggestions that are feasible. When, in a court of law, the motive is derived to understand the guilt of one party or another, what is the difference in this situation?
The fact that it is unanimously agreed that Israel is indeed “responding” (whether or not it be disproportionate) to rocket fired at unspecific targets (i.e hitting civilians – both Israeli Jews/Non Jews and Palestinians) highlights the intent of both parties.
Notwithstanding the above “bigger picture” argument, of course Israel could seek out a solution more proportionate – sending equally untargetted rockets into Palestine? I do not think anyone wants that. Or would “proportionate” be Israel going through life-risking methods to ensure that no harm comes to any civilians (often used, against their will, as human shields or propaganda targets). Where is the equality of proportions in those expectations? Israel goes above and beyond any country in minimising civilian casualties. You are right, this is not proportionate.
Now going back to the argument of motive, if you take a look at what Israel – as a whole – does, what other practices do you see that give evidence towards this “big and cowardly bully”? Is it the 10s of thousands of Darfuri Refugees I have personally worked with being allowed to enter through various arab countries in north Africa that have been persecuting these vulnerable refuge seekers? Sudanese Passports do not even recognise Israel as a country. Israel owes nothing to these people, and yet with all the difficulties and security risks it deals with, it does not turn a blind eye on those in need. This can be seen with the continuous support (both financially and medically) that Israel sends Palestinian families and Arabs living in Israel.
Despite all this, Israel could take much better decisions, to both instigate a move towards peace, but also to protect its diminishing status among popular opinion. I am the first in line to criticise settlement development, when there are no real necessities here it is done to further incite additional provocation.
However, MOST IMPORTANTLY, looking at the bigger picture, with many examples at hand and the overall behaviours displayed by both parties (not only in relation to this conflict) should invariably lead you to believe that any surface level accusations (150 Palestinians killed and only 2 Israelis – as if it would be “fairer” if more Israelis died) are clouding the bottom line: WHO THE SCRUTINY SHOULD BE ON?
BELOW ARE EXTRACTS FROM HAMAS COVENANT – FEEL FREE TO READ ON AND SUGGEST WHO THE SCRUTINY SHOULD BE ON?
(http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/hamas.asp) 1988 AUgust
Article Twenty-Two:
For a long time, the enemies have been planning, skillfully and with precision, for the achievement of what they have attained. They took into consideration the causes affecting the current of events. They strived to amass great and substantive material wealth which they devoted to the realisation of their dream. With their money, they took control of the world media, news agencies, the press, publishing houses, broadcasting stations, and others. With their money they stirred revolutions in various parts of the world with the purpose of achieving their interests and reaping the fruit therein. They were behind the French Revolution, the Communist revolution and most of the revolutions we heard and hear about, here and there. With their money they formed secret societies, such as Freemasons, Rotary Clubs, the Lions and others in different parts of the world for the purpose of sabotaging societies and achieving Zionist interests. With their money they were able to control imperialistic countries and instigate them to colonize many countries in order to enable them to exploit their resources and spread corruption there.
You may speak as much as you want about regional and world wars. They were behind World War I, when they were able to destroy the Islamic Caliphate, making financial gains and controlling resources. They obtained the Balfour Declaration, formed the League of Nations through which they could rule the world. They were behind World War II, through which they made huge financial gains by trading in armaments, and paved the way for the establishment of their state. It was they who instigated the replacement of the League of Nations with the United Nations and the Security Council to enable them to rule the world through them. There is no war going on anywhere, without having their finger in it.
“So often as they shall kindle a fire for war, Allah shall extinguish it; and they shall set their minds to act corruptly in the earth, but Allah loveth not the corrupt doers.” (The Table – verse 64).
The imperialistic forces in the Capitalist West and Communist East, support the enemy with all their might, in money and in men. These forces take turns in doing that. The day Islam appears, the forces of infidelity would unite to challenge it, for the infidels are of one nation.
“O true believers, contract not an intimate friendship with any besides yourselves: they will not fail to corrupt you. They wish for that which may cause you to perish: their hatred hath already appeared from out of their mouths; but what their breasts conceal is yet more inveterate. We have already shown you signs of their ill will towards you, if ye understand.” (The Family of Imran – verse 118).
It is not in vain that the verse is ended with Allah’s words “if ye understand.”
Article Twenty-Eight:
The Zionist invasion is a vicious invasion. It does not refrain from resorting to all methods, using all evil and contemptible ways to achieve its end. It relies greatly in its infiltration and espionage operations on the secret organizations it gave rise to, such as the Freemasons, The Rotary and Lions clubs, and other sabotage groups. All these organizations, whether secret or open, work in the interest of Zionism and according to its instructions. They aim at undermining societies, destroying values, corrupting consciences, deteriorating character and annihilating Islam. It is behind the drug trade and alcoholism in all its kinds so as to facilitate its control and expansion.
Arab countries surrounding Israel are asked to open their borders before the fighters from among the Arab and Islamic nations so that they could consolidate their efforts with those of their Moslem brethren in Palestine.
As for the other Arab and Islamic countries, they are asked to facilitate the movement of the fighters from and to it, and this is the least thing they could do.
We should not forget to remind every Moslem that when the Jews conquered the Holy City in 1967, they stood on the threshold of the Aqsa Mosque and proclaimed that “Mohammed is dead, and his descendants are all women.”
Israel, Judaism and Jews challenge Islam and the Moslem people. “May the cowards never sleep.”
Article Thirty-Two:
World Zionism, together with imperialistic powers, try through a studied plan and an intelligent strategy to remove one Arab state after another from the circle of struggle against Zionism, in order to have it finally face the Palestinian people only. Egypt was, to a great extent, removed from the circle of the struggle, through the treacherous Camp David Agreement. They are trying to draw other Arab countries into similar agreements and to bring them outside the circle of struggle.
The Islamic Resistance Movement calls on Arab and Islamic nations to take up the line of serious and persevering action to prevent the success of this horrendous plan, to warn the people of the danger eminating from leaving the circle of struggle against Zionism. Today it is Palestine, tomorrow it will be one country or another. The Zionist plan is limitless. After Palestine, the Zionists aspire to expand from the Nile to the Euphrates. When they will have digested the region they overtook, they will aspire to further expansion, and so on. Their plan is embodied in the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion”, and their present conduct is the best proof of what we are saying.
Leaving the circle of struggle with Zionism is high treason, and cursed be he who does that. “for whoso shall turn his back unto them on that day, unless he turneth aside to fight, or retreateth to another party of the faithful, shall draw on himself the indignation of Allah, and his abode shall be hell; an ill journey shall it be thither.” (The Spoils – verse 16). There is no way out except by concentrating all powers and energies to face this Nazi, vicious Tatar invasion. The alternative is loss of one’s country, the dispersion of citizens, the spread of vice on earth and the destruction of religious values. Let every person know that he is responsible before Allah, for “the doer of the slightest good deed is rewarded in like, and the does of the slightest evil deed is also rewarded in like.”
The Islamic Resistance Movement consider itself to be the spearhead of the circle of struggle with world Zionism and a step on the road. The Movement adds its efforts to the efforts of all those who are active in the Palestinian arena. Arab and Islamic Peoples should augment by further steps on their part; Islamic groupings all over the Arab world should also do the same, since all of these are the best-equipped for the future role in the fight with the warmongering Jews.
“..and we have put enmity and hatred between them, until the day of resurrection. So often as they shall kindle a fire of war, Allah shall extinguish it; and they shall set their minds to act corruptly in the earth, but Allah loveth not the corrupt doers.” (The Table – verse 64).
Tal Afek
September 24, 2016 at 9:11 am
Peter Reynolds – Very one-sided view of the battle that Israel has been fighting since its inception (undefendable borders determined by Arabist British Foreign Office). Since 1967 when Israel was attacked by all surrounding Arab nations, with an intent to ‘sweep the Jews into the sea’ and presumably achieve what Hitler failed to do, Israel has defended itself by taking control of the Golan Heights, the West Bank and Gaza. Not that I defend the settlements per se but I can see where they are coming from. Unfortunately extremism breeds extremism so Israel’s response to Hamas, Hezbollah and the former PLO has been with an iron fist.
Roger Hudson
September 4, 2017 at 5:07 pm
Undoubtedly there is wrong on both sides but Israel is the aggressor and the bully. Tanks and F16s against slingshots and fireworks is not a fair fight.
The most important words about Israel are David Ben-Gurion’s, they say it all: “If I were an Arab leader, I would never sign an agreement with Israel. It is normal; we have taken their country. It is true God promised it to us, but how could that interest them? Our God is not theirs. There has been anti-semitism, the Nazis, Hitler, Auschwitz, but was that their fault? They see but one thing: we have come and we have stolen their country. Why would they accept that?” https://peterreynolds.wordpress.com/2014/08/14/the-truth-about-israel-and-why-the-two-state-solution-is-dead/
Peter Reynolds
September 4, 2017 at 5:20 pm
As the grandson of a Jewish refugee I condemn your ignorant tirade. You conflate condemnation of Israel with anti-semitism. Israel has broken international law, is an ‘apartheid’ state, is stealing Palestinian land, has deliberately targeted schools and hospitals in Gaza and carried out countless other atrocities against Palestinian civilians.
Paul Allan-Smith
March 11, 2018 at 11:34 am
Hi peter
We still miss you in the Blue Bell you know.
However there is more news. We have sold house in Emsworth (croc tears) and bought (STC) in Box Hill village near Dorking.
Now, you are a ‘walking’ man, I need to know good ale pubs with good food. I have a small list an so far so good as they say.
Sampled a delicious very rare steak in Smith & Western on Thursday, just a mile from the new house.
However, I will still regularly haunt the ‘Bell.
Send me your personal email address.
By the way, Owain sends his regards.
Jerry
Jerry Jones
May 1, 2010 at 12:53 am
Peter,
Now I know who you are. Thanks for adding to my blog.
Sgt Twining.
Twining
July 27, 2010 at 5:33 pm
That’s a pleasure Sarge. Without meaning to patronise you at all, you belong to a small group of erudite and intelligent coppers who I’ve met online. More power to your truncheon.
Peter Reynolds
July 27, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Hello Sgt. Twining,
What percentage of police officers in the UK would you estimate as being members of Freemasonic Lodges?
Rupert Tiger
December 26, 2010 at 7:17 pm
I have no idea what erudite means Peter. Erm. I think there are some great coppers out there trying to do their job in difficult circumstances.
And with The Tories it will get worse still as they cut back and the Super’s throw wobblies as their already stretched staff cannot deliver because recruiting has been capped.
I expect crime recording rules will also change to show further reductions in crime. And as for vulnerable victims, well ASBO’s will go, but we don’t know what will replace ASBO’s yet; perhaps a fine for the parents!
Twining
July 29, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Erudite – well thought through, considered, learned, deep understanding
Peter Reynolds
July 29, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Yep, that’s me then!
Twining
July 30, 2010 at 8:28 am
Peter
Thanks for your contribution to my site http://thinbluelineuk.blogspot.com today.
It’s always good to receive views from sources other than police on the pages.
Sgt Twining and I are in frequent contact by e mail aswell as on our respective sites and we share similar views on modern day policing.
There is a lot that is obviously wrong with the service and we are determined to keep shouting our corner in the hope that we may play some small part in delivering reform.
As both of our pages reflect, there is an urgent need to address some major issues if these reforms are ever to be achieved. As I’m sure you know, there are enough police bloggers out there now trying to raise public awareness about the issues, to confirm that there is growing discontent among many of the loyal, committed and honest officers, who want to see a return to the back to basics, common sense model of policing.
From all the reports, sites and articles we have seen, together with comments from officers who are prepared to speak out, we believe the key areas that need reform, prioritising from the TOP include:-
1. GOVERNANCE. Sort out the messy Governance model of policing once and for all. The tripartite model of Home Office, Police Authority & Chief Constable is at best opaque with a mass confusion over roles and responsibilities. Sort out the professional governance of the police service (the whole HMIC / ACPO / APA / HO / NPIA / HMIC / SOCA / 43CC / IPCC etc is a confused mess and needs a shake up). The phasing out of the NPIA and the changes to the SOCA model are an indication that the Coalition are treating the challenges seriously. There are far too many quangos and bureaucratic empires and fiefdoms. The expertise and skills contained within the multitude of departments need identifying and consolidating, applying the value for money formulas for individuals and areas.
ACPO, together with its 349 members needs to be remodeled and repositioned so that its accountability is increased and transparent. If they fail to reach agreement on this, it should, I believe be scrapped. For confidence to return, it must start from the top, with a governance structure that makes it accountable to those who fund it, rather than the self perpetuating oligarchy that pervades at present.
Is there a need for 43 different separately governed forces within England and Wales? Make collaboration and mergers really work this time. Beyond a few notable projects – many of which were bank rolled by the Home Office – most of the rest are stuck in quagmire of details.
2. COSTS & CUTS. After years of growth the service is under increasing pressure to demonstrate they are more financially efficient. Shared service and shared procurement are becoming more essential. Without necessarily creating advocating mergers or one national force, many of the proposed cuts and savings could be effectively delivered by smarter volume central purchasing arrangements and sharing of resources. HR is an example. Why do 43 forces have 43 HR departments when massive savings could be achieved with one central HR function.
The same principle should be applied for all areas of procurement. Equipment and services sourced centrally would deliver millions in savings. HMIC predict that £5billion could be saved by better procurement over a ten year period. The challenge is demonstrating that as a public service the police are strong on value and low on waste. Inspection bodies such as the HMIC and Audit Commission are creating more scrutiny on Forces and the Authorities that govern them. STOP paying interim ICT consultants vast sums of money for doing maintenance work or else assembling cases for next piece of spend.
3. RESOURCES. The most effective application of human resources. From the top down, forces must look at the roles occupied by senior officers right down to the management of the front line. Of 143,000 warranted officers, only 11% are at any one time visibly policing the streets. How can ACPO justify 349 ACC ranks and above, when only 220 are engaged directly in force duties. A critical analysis of the rank structure is well overdue. It has been suggested that the Chief Superintendent and Chief Inspector ranks are superfluous to operational needs. Why are there so many supervisory, rather than ‘doing’ ranks within the service? How many ACPO officers are really needed?
The top brass within policing is crammed with academics who have proved themselves adept at creating barmy projects to preserve their empirical fiefdoms, but absolutely inept and the basics of ensuring the right resources are allocated to where it’s most needed, the frontline that serves the public. They need to be tested operationally in this regard, and if they fail, there is no place for them in the service.
Civilianisation running at 82,000, costing £2.7billion (£62 million in non forecast overtime) people has clearly escalated out of kilter. Box ticking, flow chart creating departments and individuals, many of whom impede the delivery of common sense policing rather than support it, must be justified as truly necessary or not.
Assuming that 40’ish% of warranted officers (allowing for shift patterns and rest days) are assigned to front line roles, this raises the question, “What are the other 85,000 officers doing?” Accepted that some back office functions require a warranted officer, surely there are many thousands that should be redeployed back to directly policing and serving the community. This measure alone would increase visibility and start the process of restoring public confidence and cutting crime.
The PCSO V’s Coppers debate. There are those that say this represents everything that is wrong with the system, soft, ill conceived politics playing numbers and lying to the public. Get more coppers out on the street, get rid of 50% of the IT systems within police stations where they are not required and when that is done 50% less time will be spent on emails. Audit just one Force and see how many emails travel through their system each day and how many are work related and could have been performed by supervisors. Inspectors and Sergeants must be freed up to go for a walk, in uniform, and meet with their Constables and do another thing that is lacking in the job today, talking and listening. Introduce far more job flexibility, trust and discretion – How much talent is lost to the service because of out dated and rigid working arrangements that pay little heed to a) public demand and b) preferences of frontline staff.
4. CRIME & DETECTIONS. Reducing crime and increasing detections. The problem here has been the historic one. Set Senior Police Officers a target and hook or by crook they will show that they have achieved it. Connecting performance to senior officer bonuses has whittled away any confidence the public and frontline officers may have had in the crime figures. The practice of “Gaming” exposed by Dr Rodger Patrick, a former DCI with the West Midlands force revealed that Senior Officers either encourage or condone the practices associated with “Cooking the Books” and have done so for many years. Stats may not be critical, but the deceitful manipulative practices are self serving and destructive. The techniques identified by Dr Patrick include:
“Cuffing” – in which officers make crimes disappear from official figures by either recording them as a “false report” or downgrading their seriousness. For example, a robbery in which a mobile phone is stolen with violence or threats of violence is recorded as “theft from the person”, which is not classed as a violent crime.
“Stitching” – from “stitching up”, whereby offenders are charged with a crime when there is insufficient evidence. Police know that prosecutors will never proceed with the case but the crime appears in police records to have been “solved”.
“Skewing” – when police activity is directed at easier-to-solve crimes to boost detection rates, at the expense of more serious offences such as sex crimes or child abuse.
“Nodding” – where clear-up rates are boosted by persuading convicted offenders to admit to crimes they have not committed, in exchange for inducements such as a lower sentence.
The academics call this ‘gaming’ but police officers would call it fiddling the figures, massaging the books or, the current favourite term, ‘good housekeeping’. It is a bit like the police activities that we all thought stopped in the 1970s. Serving police officers confirm that the tricks are still being used and have given examples of how they had been implemented.
In one case, an offender shot at another man at close range but missed and broke a window behind his target. The offence was recorded as criminal damage rather than attempted murder.
In another example, a man robbed in a city’s red-light district – an area he had been innocently passing through – was told by officers they would be unable to record the crime without informing his wife he had been the area, leading to the complaint being withdrawn.
One detective, who declined to be named, said: “Name any crime and I’ll tell you how it can be fiddled.”
Simon Reed, vice-chairman of the Police Federation, which represents front line officers, said: “This research demonstrates that senior officers are directing and controlling widespread manipulation of crime figures. The public are misled, politicians can claim crime is falling and chief officers are rewarded with performance-related bonuses.”
Denis O’Connor, the Chief Inspector of Constabulary, published an official report into the way police record violent crime and admitted the figures may be skewed by “perverse incentives” around government performance targets. Dr Patrick found that watchdogs such as Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and the Police Standards Unit had a “general tendency to underplay the scale and nature” of gaming.
HMIC have failed to tackle the problem. Tere are no examples of chief police officers being publicly criticised by inspectors for this type of crime figure manipulation. Instead, HMIC tended privately to refer examples of widespread gaming to the Home Secretary or the police authority rather than “hold the chief constable to account” because of the risk of political embarrassment.
HMIC inspectors should be made accountable to Parliament rather than the Home Office, and should be drawn from other professions rather than solely from senior police ranks.
5. OPERATIONAL PRIORITIES. Refocus the priorities of policing back to the Peelian principles, the main emphasis should always be the protection of life and property, the prevention and detection of crime. Anything else is a distraction.
The list of reforms is not exhaustive, but they need to start somewhere and we, the taxpaying public, need to see changes being made and results being delivered and fast.
Crime Analyst
August 14, 2010 at 12:46 pm
I can only admire your very professional approach and the intensity of your analysis. I can’t disagree with anything you have said. It all makes sense and you are, of course, far, far better informed than me.
I can only speak from, if you like, the customer’s point of view. I’ve had several friends in the police over the years, all in the Met, so I’ve had some first hand insight. I’ve also had experience with the police and judicial system from all points of view. (Yes, all of them. I’ll tell you later if you want to know!)
I would describe myself as a strong supporter of the police. Any society has to have a system of law and policing. What everyone wants is to be able to trust our police and the judicial system, to feel that it and they are on our side. For everyone, the first duty of a police officer should be to defend them, not to accuse them. We need to be able have faith in our police.
What is needed is a massive change in culture. Inspector Gadget exhibits the very worst attitudes of police officers and people like this are just not suitable to hold the Queen’s warrant. They must be weeded out and dismissed.
The TSG should be broken up tomorrow, if for no other reason than as a massive symbol of how things must change. Officers who cannot cope at events like the G20 protests without turning violent must go, as must those who want to play jack-the-lad in their high powered vehicles. We must be able to attend large public gatherings and see the police as a our friends and protectors, not our oppressors.
As an example of the divide that must be bridged between the police and the people, I offer you one particular personal story from more than two years ago:
https://peterreynolds.wordpress.com/2008/07/15/plod-the-truth-about-our-wonderful-police-force/
Thank you so much for your contribution.
Peter Reynolds
August 14, 2010 at 6:23 pm
I cannot agree enough about Inspector Gadget types.
Here is the blog entry that I made about him a year ago.
He even makes a couple of personal appearances in the comments.
http://fourfingercampaign.blogspot.com/2010/01/inspector-gadget.html
Zoe Mercer
February 14, 2011 at 1:31 pm
Peter,
He is rather erudite as well.
T.
Twining
August 17, 2010 at 12:21 pm
No one can deny that
Peter Reynolds
August 17, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Peter,
Gadget has lifted the roof on alot of real silliness in policing; poor leadership, poor training, silly targets, etc. I don’t know Gadget and I don’t always agree with him but he isn’t the enemy.
T.
Twining
August 17, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Well, I’m temnpted to say it’s not him, it’s the Gene Hunt/Jack Regan wannabes who comment on his site – but then he does provide the forum for them doesn’t he? He’s also a “censor and abuser of the blogosphere”. I mean, what justification can there be for barring a sweet, gentle old tosser like me?
Peter Reynolds
August 17, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Email him, come to an agreement.
Twining
August 18, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Hello Peter!
Thank you for the personal invite 🙂 How would you like me to introduce myself? Love the “sweet, gentle old tosser” part … now THAT is brilliant!
Julie
August 17, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Well, where are you from as you say you’re not British? Why is your URL The Mad Hatter? Are you Duncs in a dress? Where and when can we make beautiful music together?
Peter Reynolds
August 17, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Ok, confession time it seems … I’m South African, born here and lived here all my life – dad truly is a Welsh git (although I wouldn’t tell him that).
The MadHatters has a couple of admins (we share the site) – although Duncan is the most regular contributor, there’s NobblySan who contributes more than I do, then there’s me, who contributes a post now and then. We have Ratty as well, but he’s about the laziest of us all. So there you have it, I’m not Duncs in dress, although he does have a passion for pink 😉
Now, about that music ….. 😆
Julie
August 17, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Yeah, I spotted the Springbok while I was fantasising about us making beautiul music together.
I’ve always wanted to go to SA. I was invited to apply to be creative director of an ad agency there just after the end of apartheid. It’s one of the big “what ifs” in my life. It may seem totally irrelevant but I’m a huge, huge, huge Wilbur Smith fan. Nothing absorbs me more than escaping into the pages of one of his novels.
So I understand now, there’s all you lot at the Mad Hatter’s tea party, sipping psychoactive beverages while I have to keep my li’l old site going all on my own!
Incidentally “tea party” is all over the US blogs and I still don’t really understand what it means. Is it something to do with you and your lot?
So I take it you’re declining the invite to my party (plenty of mind-altering substances here too). Anyway you can’t get in without photo ID.
Love and kisses,
P.
Peter Reynolds
August 17, 2010 at 3:02 pm
that’s a bloody lie – I do not have a passion for pink. I do not – I repeat NOT posses any item of pink clothing !!!
That I do is a scurrilous rumour put about by Noseycow (one of the original madhatter admins)
And I don’t wear a dress – it’s a bloody kilt, woman !111
duncanr
August 17, 2010 at 9:58 pm
WOW I’m impressed you recognised the “bokkie” – more than once I’ve been referred to as “ya cheeky wee bokkie” by a certain gent over at the Hatters.
It’s fun having a “communal” blog, although we end up having to explain it quite a bit. We have a lot of regular visitors from the US blogs (and the Aussie blogs as well), not too sure if our little tea party is what they refer to though – they may be thinking of Boston … that reminds me of the song “More than a feeling” …
Wilbur Smith is my absolute favourite – I used to grab the books to read before dad could get his mitts on them!
As you’ll gather I’m not a political discusser, I don’t discuss UK politics because I haven’t a clue what it’s all about, and I discuss SA politics even less because it doesn’t amuse me in the slightest what our corrupt government is up to!
South Africa is a beautiful country, but the crime has escalated to such a level that it’s no longer appealing!
Julie
August 17, 2010 at 4:39 pm
No I shoud have spotted it sooner. The Welshman, rugby fanatic in me was slow there.
I shall be watching out for your next piece on The Mad Hatter. I’m fascinated by the idea of a communal blog. I appeals to my old hippy instincts. Where are you? Do you all live in some big house together?
No US “tea parties” definitley aren’t about Boston. It seems to be a pejorative term for the right but then some of them seem to use it about thesmselves as well. I could aslways google it I suppose but that’s such an effort. It’s much more fun talking to you.
Now look! Stop that! You’ll have me flirting next.
Peter Reynolds
August 17, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Good morning Peter. Just perused through your blog and something struck me: There are many of us thinking along the same socio-political lines all over the world. If we could get united, organized as a major political block, who knows where it would lead ? Not only for legalization but also about social justice issues.
I think cannabis should be treated as a gift from the gods, as it is a truly a panacea for most of our modern ills. Like the comic said: never mind about its legalization. It should be mandatory.
Cheers,
Lou
lou
October 10, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Thank you Lou.
Peter Reynolds
October 10, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Hi Peter
I’ve just been catching up on your latest posts, some great stuff there. Did you note the news from Portugal about their outcome of their decriminalisation (?) of marijuana? Sad news for all the panic merchants, it’s been a big success…
Always a pleasure – I’m backing Rebecca too 😉
Robyn (Siren of Brixton)
Siren of Brixton
October 19, 2010 at 6:17 am
Thank you Robyn
Peter Reynolds
October 19, 2010 at 8:03 am
Hi Peter, i’#m sorry if this is the wrong place, was just trying to get in contact with you with regard to Jim Starr and his quest.
The reasoning behind dissallowing it was the words “their state of residence” in the shengen agreement. Defined byu blacks law dictionary current edition, a state is a group of people who’re politically organised, no reference or regard to where you are a member, where you were born etc, just a group of people, and residence is simply somewhere you live for some time, no evaluation on some, so it must mean any and all periods, and to live, there is no definition, so i live here and now in a group of similarly minded people, my state of residence has ZERO relevance to my nationality by legal definition.
Hugh
November 8, 2010 at 9:29 pm
Hi peter.
Proud Welshman eh, makes perfect sense to me living in cardigan bay, fairness and social justice I believe is very much ingrained in the welsh psyche.
I am very taken aback with your enthusiasm and zeal regarding MMJ and would like to take this opportunity to invite you to http://www.greenpassion.org a website for medicinal MJ users, there is so much to be found and admired there, the stories and the testimonials are second to none, it is an international site and very nice, warm humorous crowd who share and give so much.
You have brought hope to both myself and my lovely wife and I suspect very many more, there is no way, could | not come here and thank you for all you have done and all you are doing.
Diolch yn fawr.
L Catt
November 23, 2010 at 5:37 pm
My family comes from Newport and Maesteg. I left Wales when I was two but I remember endless holidays in Newport, Cardiff, Llangwynd, Barry, Penarth, Southerndown, Porthcawl, Swansea, the Gower, etc, etc
Cymru am byth
Peter Reynolds
December 19, 2010 at 11:13 pm
Peter, I’ve just come across your blog, unfortunately via Insp Gadget. If I may:
I am a serving police officer (that’s that out of the way!)The commentators on the Insp Gadget blog do not represent me, or my staff. I imagine Insp Gadget knows his audience, and blogs appropriately. He has a book published as a result.
I was in Parliament Sq during the riots. I also know the PC and PCSO seriously hurt in Ealing. I am not a right-wing lunatic.
My main point is how much I appreciate your views. I quote: “I support the real police” – I am the real police, and if not, I have failed. My serial in the riots have been spoken about in a positive way on student blogs. The people behind the riot helmets is what I try and present. And we did. I have evidence, and I hope that those who write such things continue to think so. That is what we are paid for.
The police have many failings, and I see this all the time. Not so much what actually happens, but how it is responded to. It is not for serving police officers to act as judge and jury. Ever. Please understand that there are good men and women out there, wearing the cloth, who do the job for the right reasons. I, and my staff, are an example.
If it wasn’t for the free press, including blog entries like this, the police would be so much worse. I really mean that.
World Weary Detective
December 19, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Thank you. I feel both honoured and humbled by what you say. There is nothing worse than a bad cop but nothing better than a good one. That’s what makes it such a tough job.
Peter Reynolds
December 19, 2010 at 10:55 pm
When police have the power to think for themselves and question practices that they might think unjust, to be able to ‘rebel’ then they might be taken seriously. Otherwise they are just government following sheep that are not protecting the people surely?
“Arrest a man and destroy his life, its an order”
“yes sir”
Is clearly messed up
Paz
March 30, 2011 at 5:46 pm
Peter, are you OK ? Haven’t heard from you for a while. Lou
talesfromthelou
November 22, 2011 at 2:27 pm
If you researched about medicinal THC. Thanksbfor putting a middle finger up to terminally ill patients and those who suffer from illness. Shame on you. Health over money.
Mike Craft
October 5, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Hi Peter,
I’ve been ill for 17 years now and I am 36 years old. I wont bore you or me with my list of health problems. I came across cannabis as a medicine a few weeks ago and just found your website. What’s the exact position at the moment? If I get a medical note for bedocran can I bring it into the UK by post or person? Any advice on what I can do legally to get my hands on legal medical cannabis so I don’t get into trouble would be great.
Needless human suffering is a shame when it can be so easily avoided.
Keep up the great work.
Many thanks
Dav
June 7, 2015 at 1:15 pm
If you have a doctor who is prepared to write a prescription I can guide you on how exactly to do it. Email: peter@peter-reynolds.co.uk
Peter Reynolds
June 7, 2015 at 5:09 pm
peter I wrote two very long comments to you on your article stop foreign aid and protect the seel workers-firstly the first comment disappeared then part two comment also disappeared-yet they were visible for a while-can you please write to me at standishi@outlook.com to explain this and confirm if you have the comments in your system-steve
steve cook
April 25, 2016 at 4:21 am
Both your comments have been published.
Peter Reynolds
April 25, 2016 at 9:14 am
Nice article Peter. The struggle toward legalization neccesitates putting the medicinal benefits of Cannabis first; it’s nice the be remind that sometimes we can consume for the simple pleasure of enhancing our experiences. And, there is nothing wrong with the that.
Jesse McConnell
May 7, 2016 at 1:34 pm
Hello Peter! I have just heard today that the mostly loathed piece of legislation known as the psychoactive substances bill is back on track to be released, I was wondering if you would write a piece about it. I would love to hear your thought’s about it’s revival.
David Abbott
May 9, 2016 at 8:10 pm
I have written about it David – https://peterreynolds.wordpress.com/2016/03/22/poppers-are-not-psychoactive-the-arrogant-madness-of-uk-drugs-policy/
Peter Reynolds
May 10, 2016 at 6:30 am
Hi Peter – interesting blog! I’m writing on behalf of the Oxford Union, and we are hoping to send you a formal invitation to come and speak in a debate next term about drug use. If you’re interested, please will you let me know how to contact you? I can be reached on stephen.horvath@oxford-union.org.
Many thanks,
Stephen
Stephen Horvath
December 5, 2016 at 2:37 pm
Thanks you Peter for standing up for us sick disabled people. You’re a Great Man.
Mr J
March 22, 2017 at 4:10 pm
In what way is he standing up for sick and disabled people,? He supports a party that has attacked sick and disabled people, The Tory party,
Mary Jackson
August 18, 2017 at 7:18 am
Bigot!
Is it not the case that every UK political party that has ever held power has also, in your terms, “attacked sick and disabled people”?
Your sort of simplistic, black and white attitude is totally unrealistic, unbalanced and the politics of the school playground.
Peter Reynolds
August 18, 2017 at 7:35 am
Dear Peter Reynold
You sound very interesting. At last, a compassionate, modern and pragmatic thinker.
Could I possibly please contact you direct?
I run a very small publishing press and I am looking for contributors to two anthologies of short stories, poems and essays on the theme of Europe; and on the theme of Trump’s election and its consequences. I am looking for idiosyncratic and illuminating perspectives.
Thank you, Patricia
Patricia Borlenghi
May 10, 2017 at 6:40 pm
Hi Peter.
Some very good points in your resignation post.
If you fancy an alternative, look us up, WISE Reunited.
Kindest regards
Richard
Richard Pitchford
September 2, 2017 at 11:25 am
Hi Peter, Big fan of your work regarding the implications of medicinal cannabis having followed CLEAR for quite some time on Facebook, something I feel very strongly about. I was wondering if you possibly offered a consultation service regarding your knowledge on this wonderful plant?? I would be very eager to hear your thoughts on areas where you think people need educating the most in regards to medicinal cannabis? I can come to you, no issues at all , I would be very grateful for any quotes you have for a private sit down.
Kindest regards
Nathan (Barnesnathan1991@gmail.com)
Nathan Barnes MSc
December 1, 2018 at 2:40 pm
Hi Peter,
We are a new business in the UK that have this week launched our brand of CBD coffee. Is this something you would consider reviewing and writing about or have I completely misunderstood and this is not the type of thing you would do? Apologies for the direct approach, but thought I would ask.
Kind regards
John
March 1, 2019 at 10:48 pm
Drop me an email John at peter@peter-reynolds.co.uk
Peter Reynolds
March 4, 2019 at 12:07 pm
Sir, I just saw you yesterday speaking at the Hemp and CBD Expo at the NEC in Birmingham and you’re amazing. Hopefully in the future, we will cross paths to make the world a better place thanks to Cannabis.
Salvy Tarrega
March 3, 2019 at 11:23 am