Gardaí look at extending cautions for cannabis

Gardaí are to examine the expansion of an adult caution scheme to include possession of cannabis under the new national drugs strategy.

The last time this was proposed — in 2006 — it was abandoned after the then justice minister Michael McDowell scuppered such a move, which had been agreed by the DPP and the gardaí.

The Adult Cautioning Scheme, operating outside the criminal courts, includes public order and drink- related offences, minor assaults and criminal damage.