New Bid To Tackle Rising Use Of ‘Laughing Gas’ In Harborough District
Written by HFM News on 10th March 2021
Police are set to be given new powers to tackle the increasing use of ‘laughing gas’ across Harborough.
As well as being a health risk, as people inhale nitrous oxide to get an instant ‘high’, the littering of the small silver canisters, particularly in rural locations, is causing concern.
The new Public Place Protection Order would ban the use of such psychoactive substances in public places in the Harborough District and give Police officers the power to seize canisters and arrest anyone who refused to hand them over.
Currently their powers are limited, as it is not illegal to possess nitrous dioxide, as the substance has several legitimate uses.
Harborough District Council’s Community Safety Partnership is working on introducing the legislation following a period of public consultation.
Cllr Simon Whelband, Harborough District Council’s Cabinet lead on Communities and Well-being spoke to Hfm:
Users of nitrous oxide, also known as ‘Noz’ or ‘Hippy Crack’ typically inhale via a balloon inflated with the gas.
Some deaths have been reported in England this year, after people fell unconscious and suffocated from the lack of oxygen.
Sergeant Pete Jelbert from Market Harborough Police Station told Hfm the new legislation would make a real difference.
Empty nitrous oxide canisters in Market Harborough
