Papers examine cannabis downgrade

Friday's papers continue to examine the possible effects of making cannabis a class C drug from next week.

Surveys carried out by the Guardian and the Sun suggest there are discrepancies in the way police forces plan to treat cannabis users when the drug is downgraded.

According to the Guardian's survey of 45 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, some will operate a strict "arrest all" policy, while others will give cautions, concentrating their efforts on harder drugs.

Heroin plan

As the debate on the declassification of cannabis continues, the Independent's main story focuses on proposals to target heroin users.

It says a government report has recommended making heroin use a criminal offence - a radical departure from the current law, which is based on possession or dealing.

Police would be given the power to test suspected users.

If they tested positive, they would be forced either to enter rehabilitation, or face a maximum prison sentence of seven years.

Speeding review

According to the Times, ministers are looking at what it calls "sophisticated" alterations to the points system under which people are automatically banned from driving after four speeding offences, irrespective of their gravity.

It says officials have disclosed that the review will consider whether fewer points could be allocated for lesser speeding offences.

Tory triumph

The Telegraph leads with an opinion poll suggesting that the Conservatives have the support of 40% of voters for the first time since their standing collapsed when the pound was forced out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism in 1992.

The poll, by YouGov, puts Labour on 35% and the Liberal Democrats on nineteen.

The figures are based on a sample of just over 2,500 electors interviewed online between Tuesday and Thursday - and have been adjusted to conform to the demographic profile of British adults as a whole.

Among other front pages, the overspend in the defence budget is the Guardian's lead; the Express focuses on the comments about suicide bombers by the Liberal Democrat MP, Jenny Tonge; while the Mail concentrates on confirmation by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens, that the Prince of Wales will be interviewed as part of the inquiry into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Push it like Beckham

The Telegraph and the Express report that the Mothercare store chain is revamping its image because it fears the name deters men from using its shops.

With the company facing fierce competition from rivals - the Telegraph says - its latest catalogue features a beaming father and child on its cover for the first time.

The paper adds that new in-store departments will focus on products more likely to be bought by fathers, such as pushchairs or car seats.

According to the Express, the changes reflect the emergence of fathers like David Beckham who spend more time with their children.

Pigeon puzzle

The Guardian reports claims that thousands of homing pigeons are getting lost each year because of mobile phone masts.

According to pigeon enthusiasts, the powerful electro-magnetic microwave radiation from masts is destroying the birds' sense of direction.

The paper says many owners have had to change the route their birds take to fly home, to avoid masts.

Budget bus

Finally, an offer in the Times: buy your own red London bus for £2,000.

More than 500 of the old-style Routemaster buses are going on sale as they are replaced by modern, low-floor vehicles.

The paper says many of them are being bought by companies specialising in heritage tours and special events such as weddings.

But - it adds - a growing market is emerging among private individuals seeking a little piece of London's history.