Lancashire Police vow to crackdown on "legal highs" following ban
Lancashire Police is vowing to crack down on legal highs from this morning after a new law came in to force.
Lancashire Police is vowing to crack down on legal highs from this morning after a new law came in to force.
It bans the production and distribution of psychoactive substances - anyone who breaks the rules could be jailed for up to seven years.
The Psychoactive Substances Act will provide a blanket ban on the production, supply and importation of new psychoactive substances.
It will fundamentally change the way the police tackle psychoactive substances and will make new drugs that appear on the market illegal quicker than ever before.
WATCH: Detective Chief Inspector Graham Gallagher from Lancashire Police says they have a strategy in place:
National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for New Psychoactive Substances, Commander Simon Bray added: “This new legislation is a very positive step forward. It highlights the government’s commitment to supporting law enforcement, including the police, in our efforts to combat dangerous drugs. A blanket ban on new psychoactive substances will make it simpler to deal with those drugs which 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.”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.
While the new Act does not criminalise simple possession of psychoactive substances it will be an offence to possess them within custodial institutions, or anywhere with intent to supply them to another. It is also an offence to import them, including by buying them from a foreign website.
Operations have been taking place across the county to raise awareness of changes to the law. Head shop owners and other suppliers have been given time to adapt to the new laws and stop the trading of these potentially dangerous drugs.
Illegal drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy will continue to be controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Information about psychoactive substances can be reported to the police on 101 or to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.