Police seize former 'legal highs' from Harehills shop

As new ban on so-called legal highs comes into force, West Yorkshire Police have seized dozens of cannisters of nitrous oxide at a shop in Harehills.

Published 26th May 2016

As a new ban on so-called legal highs comes into force, West Yorkshire Police have seized dozens of cannisters of nitrous oxide at a shop in Harehills.

The cannisters - better known as laughing gas - were removed under the new Psychoactive Substances Act, which bans all substances 'capable of producing a psychoactive effect in a person who consumes them'.

Police say the people in the shop were cooperative and had already made moves to get rid of all stock which can no longer be legally sold.

A man behind the counter - who wanted to be known as Sean - told Radio Aire he thinks the ban will just send the problem underground:

Detective Chief Inspector Warren Stephenson from West Yorkshire Police says the new law is a 'milestone': "Since 2012, we've been working in and around psychoactive substances, which have been unhelpfully titled 'legal highs'.

"They're NOT safe and they're causing problems and devastation within our communities.There will be a loved one near you who I'm sure has been affected by these substances."