THE number of people convicted for cannabis possession by Dorset Police has dropped by 20 per cent since 2012.

Last year there were 146 such convictions after court hearings, compared with 181 in 2012, according to figures from the Ministry of Justice.

Of those successfully prosecuted the force, 111 were given a fine or discharge, while three received prison sentences.

Possession charges for cannabis, the most commonly used drug in the UK, made up 35 per cent of the total drugs possession offences Dorset Police saw taken to court.

The Association of Chief Police Officers recommends only arresting someone for having cannabis for personal use after they have been given a warning and separately an £80 penalty notice.

Niamh Eastwood, executive director of drug legislation charity Release, said the trend was due a decline in stop and search across England and Wales.

“The fall in the number of prosecutions for drug possession offences, and in particular cannabis possession, has largely been a result of the significant decrease in the use of stop and search,” she said. "This trend is welcomed as low-level possession offences should not be a priority for police.

“That being said, over 50 per cent of all stop and searches still focus on this type of activity, with huge disparities in how drugs are policed across the country.

"Some police forces are taking a more pragmatic approach and diverting people away from the criminal justice system for possession offences.”

She said legalisation in other countries had reduced drug deaths.

“The UK Government should follow suit and implement a model of decriminalisation for drug possession, this would reduce the harms faced by people who use drugs, save the state money and ensure consistency in the way this issue is policed.”

Dorset Police Chief Constable James Vaughan said the force had not changed policy over the past five years, and described the number of convictions as "completely consistent".

"There is no change in policy, practice or operational response," he said.

Chief Superintendent Mark Callaghan, of Dorset Police, said: “We should not overlook the significant harm and misery caused by the misuse of drugs and other substances, including alcohol.

"There are particular concerns surrounding young people and the psychotic effects of cannabis.

"This and the harmful effects of class A drugs remain a major issue.

"We remain concerned about serious and organised criminals who peddle drugs and violence in our communities and there remains a significant link between substance misuse and crime overall."

Recently Mike Barton, Durham Police Chief Constable, called for cannabis to be legalised in a bid to prevent the use of stronger strains such as skunk and spice.

He said his force would not apply for search warrants for people with one or two cannabis plants, and not prosecute those caught with cannabis for personal use.

“The status quo is not tenable. It’s getting worse,” he said.

“Drugs are getting cheaper, stronger, more readily available and more dangerous.

“I have come reluctantly over the years to the conclusion that we need to regulate the market.

“If you can regulate the market you can make sure it’s old-fashioned cannabis not skunk or spice.”

Ch Supt Callaghan said: “Chief Constables are required to prioritise the policing response, which means making tough choices to ensure our communities get the best possible service they deserve.

"New and emerging threats such as child sexual exploitation, cyber-crime, county lines drug networks, the criminal exploitation of the vulnerable and the threat of extremism place even greater strain on these resources.

“When setting priorities, the force does not place disproportionate emphasis on drug enforcement, particularly surrounding personal use of cannabis, but we will not be relaxing our enforcement policy and will deal effectively and proportionately with those who are found in possession of controlled drugs.”