New police powers to tackle supply of legal highs

New legislation came into force today, Thursday 26th May, meaning it is now illegal to sell or supply any psychoactive substance.

Suppliers are being given the opportunity to surrender their stocks in a week-long hand in which will run until midnight on Wednesday 1 June and allow people in Cheshire to safely dispose of these substances without fear of prosecution.

Psychoactive substances are often referred to as legal highs and used as an umbrella term for products that are intended to mimic the effects of controlled drugs. 

This legislation gives police the power to shut down shops that are trading in legal highs and makes it an offence to import them, for instance buying them from a foreign website.

Possessing a psychoactive substance will not be an offence, except in a custodial institution. However possession with the intent to supply, import or export a psychoactive substance is now an offence.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Beauchamp said: "In Cheshire we are dealing with more incidents each year that involve the use of psychoactive substances. In the past three years we've seen incidents rise by nearly 200 per cent. Last year nearly 20 per cent of all incidents relating to psychoactive substances involved young people aged 16 years old or younger.

"We have taken the rise in these substances and the harm they are causing seriously and have already used existing anti-social behaviour legislation to take action against premises selling them. Community Protection Notices have been served on a number of premises in Chester Warrington prohibiting them from selling and distributing 'legal highs'. A Public Space Protection Order is now in place preventing the use of any intoxicating substances, including 'legal highs' in Chester city centre and Warrington is in the process of applying for one in its town centre.

"This isn't about criminalising those who use these substances, but aimed at the producers, distributors and dealers. Just because they're known as 'legal highs' doesn't mean to say they are safe, they are lethal. They can kill and people are dicing with their life each time they take one."

Councillor Paul Bates, Cabinet member for Communities and Health, said: "Cheshire East Council is an enforcing authority and we will work with our colleagues in Cheshire Police to crack down on the distribution of psychoactive substances in the Borough.

"Under this new legislation, retailers can be prosecuted if they are found to be selling these substances illegally and our trading standards teams, in partnership with the police, will take action wherever they suspect a retailer is breaking the law."

Police in Cheshire have been tackling this issue for some time and operations have been taking place across the county to raise awareness of changes in the law, giving shop owners and other suppliers time to adhere to the new legislation and stop the trading of these substances.

Paul Beauchamp concludes: "We will continue to work closely with our partners and use all the powers we have at our disposal to take positive action that will not only help prevent users of psychoactive substances from being seriously harmed but also to prevent others from the anti-social behaviour that is often linked to such use.

"We are committed to reducing the harm caused by all drugs, but cannot do this alone; prevention, education and health services all have a crucial role to play."

If anyone has information regarding the sale or supply of psychoactive substances can call police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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