Police will visit head shops in Brighton and Hove tomorrow as new legislation on so-called ‘legal highs becomes law.
Sussex Police say it is planning to police the Psychoactive Substances Act, which puts a blanket ban on the production, supply and importation of new psychoactive substances, in a practical and proportionate manner.
It says the act will fundamentally change the way forces tackle psychoactive substances and will make new psychoactive substances that appear on the market illegal quicker than ever before.
Legal highs have been linked to the deaths of several people in the city, including John Sterling Smith and Hester Stewart who died after taking mephedrone, which was then legal, in 2010.
Last November, Oliver Parsons was jailed for life after stabbing Joe Lewis through the heart after taking the legal high Euphoria, as well as a cocktail of drink, cannabis and heroin, on Christmas Day 2015.
Detective Inspector Andy Bennett of Sussex Police said; “This new legislation is a very positive step forward. Police are ready to enforce the new law and tackle the harm caused in communities by the sale and use of drugs.
“As with all controlled or illegal drugs, our approach will be practical, proportionate and based on the individual circumstances.
“We are committed to reducing the harm caused by all drugs but we cannot do this alone; prevention, education and health service all have a crucial role to play.
“‘Head shop’ owners and other suppliers have been told what the act means for them, and have been given time to adapt to the new law and stop the trading of these potentially dangerous drugs.
“Police will work with local authority trading standards to educate users and potential users about the new law and the risks of taking unknown substances.”
A variety of options exist in enforcing this legislation including prohibition notices, premises notices, prohibition orders and premises orders, which allow police or local authorities to require people to stop stocking, selling or supplying psychoactive substances.
Officers have been given powers to stop and search people, vehicles and vessels, enter and search premises in accordance with a warrant, and to seize and destroy psychoactive substances.
Andy Bennett added: “Police, Trading Standards, border force and other organisations have been working hard to tackle the supply of controlled and non-controlled NPS but a blanket ban on new psychoactive substances will make it simpler to deal with those drugs that are unsafe but may not yet be controlled.
“It will also make it easier to tackle so called legal highs which may contain mixtures including already illegal drugs.
“We encourage the public to let us know, either direct buy 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or 101, or by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 if they believe shops or establishments continue to supply psychoactive substances once the Act commences on 26 May.”
What is banned? Any substance intended for human consumption that is capable of producing a psychoactive effect. The legislation provides a blanket ban on the production, supply and importation of new psychoactive substances. Alcohol, tobacco and caffeine will be excluded, and there are also exemption for food and medical products.
Pointless law. How can you make something even more of a problem and more dangerous? Ban it, that’s how. Our government don’t have a damn clue.
The N in NPS stands for Novel, not New.
Hester Stewart was a 21 year old medical student, cheerleader and student mentor who given GBL not meohedrone. She had been at an awards dinner where she consumed a few glasses of alcohol. It was the combination of these two substances sent her into a coma from which she never awoke.