Police Shut Down Aberdeen Legal Highs Store
Police have closed down a legal highs store in Aberdeen, what what is the first action of its kind in Scotland.
Police Scotland with the assistance of Aberdeen City Council and its legal team today secured a closure order for the shop called 'Harminasion' on George Street, Aberdeen.
It's due to anti-social behaviour arising from the sale of legal highs on the premises.
This closure of a shop selling legal highs is the first such action of its kind in Scotland.
Concerns about persistent anti-social behaviour had been flooding in from local residents, businesses, elected representatives and partner agencies.
Following these complaints, Police Scotland compiled a Closure Order application request for the council and court's consideration based on anti-social behaviour.
Chief Superintendent Adrian Watson, Police Commander for Aberdeen City, said: "We have had a significant number of complaints raised by the public and businesses in the area and despite trying to work this through with the shop concerned, we, as a partnership, have taken this action in bringing the closure order to give the community some well-deserved respite and to keep people safe.
"I stress the case has been built firmly around the associated anti-social behaviour that has been caused by the way the business operates. That said, we of course have obvious concerns around the effects of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), or so-called legal highs being sold, which are mirrored by a wide range of partners including Aberdeen City Council and NHS Grampian and we will continue to work collaboratively in looking at every opportunity to lessen the harm caused in the City and across the wider north-east."
Chief Inspector Nick Topping, Area Commander for Aberdeen City North, said: "This is the first time anti-social behaviour legislation has been used to tackle the associated problems around shops that sell New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), or so-called 'legal highs'.
"Working together with Aberdeen City Council, we have listened to the concerns raised by the local community about the anti-social behaviour surrounding the shop on George Street.
"We are committed to tackling issues associated with NPS and reiterate that the term 'legal high' is completely misleading. Legal highs are not safe and people can never be sure what they are actually taking when they take NPS as the content of the substances vary and can contain controlled drugs and other harmful and potentially toxic substances. Tragically there have been a number of deaths and hospital admissions across the country which have been linked to the use of NPS. There is no safe way to take NPS and the only way to stay safe is to avoid them altogether.
"This enforced closure complements the additional educational and diversionary work Police Scotland is doing with partners in relation to the wider risk legal highs pose within our communities.
Aberdeen City Administration Councillor Ross Thomson said: "There is genuine community concern regarding the availability of legal highs and how they can be sold openly in retail premises. The motion I brought to Council raised awareness of the specific problems here in Aberdeen.
"There have been a number of complaints from local residents and businesses about persistent and serious antisocial behaviour arising from customers of the shop Harminasion on George Street which openly sells legal highs. I welcome today’s concerted and joint action by Police Scotland and Aberdeen City Council to close the shop for three months in order to conduct a full investigation."
"Legal Highs are a growing menace and they are lethal. Today highlights the proactive measures the Council and Police Scotland are taking to combat the scourge of legal highs within the current powers available and I look forward to seeing these powers being strengthened. Today’s actions are good news and I am sure will provide some comfort and reassurance to residents, parents and the community."
It follows Northsound News recent investigation into the dangerous substances, which found 1 in 4 listeners have tried them before.
It also comes after our reporter Hope Webb gave a talk to just under 100 people, about her work investigating the drugs, at a legal highs awareness night hosted by charity 'Drug's Action' at Pittodrie last week.