Conservative Bexley Councillors have criticised Sadiq Khan's new suggested scheme to decriminalise Class B drugs in certain areas.

Khan is reportedly planning to decriminalise certain drugs in a new scheme, with intentions to end prosecution of young people caught with cannabis.

The Telegraph reported yesterday that Khan’s scheme will allow under 25s who are caught with Class B drugs – including cannabis, ketamine and speed, to receive awareness classes or counselling, instead of arrest.

The mayor has since said he now denies claims to decriminalise Class B drugs, clarifying that a proposed scheme would apply only to young people found with cannabis.

The scheme will be reportedly introduced in three south east London boroughs including Lewisham, Greenwich, and Bexley.

A statement released by the Conservative Bexley Councillors included opinions from Peter Fortune, Teresa O’Neill, David Evennett and Louie French.

The statement said that the Conservative party councillors of Bexley are “appalled” to learn about a new drug policy.

They said: “We are appalled to learn today through the media that the Labour Mayor of London plans to impose on Bexley a policy of decriminalising drugs.

"This was decided without any discussion with the council leader, assembly member, members of Parliament, or indeed any resident.

“We strongly opposed the Mayor of London’s decision to axe Bexley’s Borough police force and merge it with Lewisham and Greenwich, which has meant that our residents lose out as valuable resources are concentrated in areas with higher levels of crime."

The councillors said they don’t want to be treated as “guinea pigs” following his suggestion.

They added: “This shows that the mayor doesn’t care about our residents or what they want.

“We now stand together in saying that we do not support any weakening of drugs laws and we do not want our borough to be a guinea pig for this policy – and nor do Bexley residents.”

Similar schemes have previously been tested by police and crime commissioners in Somerset, Durham and the West Midlands.

Khan's scheme will be led by Lewisham mayor, Damien Egan.

The full statement from the Conservative Bexley Councillors reads as: “We are appalled to learn today through the media that the Labour Mayor of London plans to impose on Bexley a policy of decriminalising drugs, without any discussion with the council leader, assembly member, members of Parliament, or indeed any resident.

“We strongly opposed the Mayor of London’s decision to axe Bexley’s Borough police force and merge it with Lewisham and Greenwich, which has meant that our residents lose out as valuable resources are concentrated in areas with higher levels of crime.

“This shows that the mayor doesn’t care about our residents or what they want.

“We now stand together in saying that we do not support any weakening of drugs laws and we do not want our borough to be a guinea pig for this policy – and nor do Bexley residents.”

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