The New Psychoactive Substances Act came into force at midnight (May 26)and applies to any substance which produces a psychoactive effect on a person.
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Lincoln a year ago earned the dubious reputation as a “magnet for legal high users” in a damning report by The Times, as new figures showed more than a fifth of England’s legal highs-related police call-outs across England were in our county. A survey by the YMCA found whilst overall usage was likely to reduce, a hefty two thirds of young people would continue to take their favoured no-longer-legal high.
And Mr Lane was adamant that changing the law would now remove the perception that the drugs were safe due to their legal status.
Northumbria Police says the new legislation will prevent harm caused by the chemicals and put a blanket ban in place on the production, supply and importation on new psychoactive substances (NPS).
“Within the law, it’s not illegal to possess these substances, but we will always take action”.
The term “legal” implies that such substances are not as unsafe as controlled drugs, but in reality many do actually contain controlled substances – which are illegal and the side effects can not be predicted.
Ian Newell, Business and Public Protection Manager at Lincolnshire Trading Standards, said: “This new legislation will give us extra powers to shut down shops and UK-based websites which trade in legal highs”.
“We have a number of options available to enforce this legislation which include prohibition notices, premises notices, prohibition orders and premises orders all of which allow police and local authorities to require people to stop stocking, selling or supplying psychoactive substances”.
Possession of NPS will not be an offence under the Psychoactive Substances Act, although suppliers could now face up to seven years in prison.
Forces are committed to reducing the harm caused by all drugs but we can not do this alone – prevention, education and health service all have a crucial role to play. When they have been classed as legal, I think that has made people think they are safe to use, but that is far from the truth.
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Sometimes referred to as legal highs, it is now illegal to supply or sell new psychoactive substances for human consumption.
