THE recent arrest of the Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies in Stockport for possession of cannabis was a crass act of self-publicity for which he should be ashamed.

I was present the day before Chris's arrest when he announced to a meeting of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities in Stockport, with considerable pride, that he was going to get himself arrested.

I was taken aback by his statement then, and his actions since are nothing short of disgraceful.

The law cannot be treated as a game just to boost one's media profile. Chris revels in media attention and is no stranger to courting controversy in the press. As he well knows, being outrageous will always attract column inches. But his latest publicity stunt is beyond the pale. His flippant disregard for the law sets an appalling example to young people and undermines the credibility of politicians as people who make the law.

There is a debate to be had on drugs law, particularly regarding the medical use of cannabis. But Chris has gone about raising the issue the wrong way with this pathetic stunt.

Moreover, he has also wasted police time. The Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police. Med Hughes. said that it would be better "if MEPs occupied themselves in the law-making institutions for which they are paid rather than distracting police officers from their important work". He suggested that politicians "who have the privilege of access to those institutions" focus on changing such laws, if that is their aim.

I hope Chris now sees that his stunt has backfired and his standing in the eyes of the public has diminished greatly. All publicity is not good publicity Chris, especially when you treat the law with such contempt.

DAVID SUMBERG,

North West Tory MEP.