Graham, Tom and Ian

Your Lib Dem team for Cheadle West & Gatley Learn more

Stockport Council acts against “legal highs”

by Lib Dem team on 16 February, 2015

The Safer Stockport Partnership has commenced a new initiative targeting shops selling so-called “Legal Highs”.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service and Stockport Council’s Trading Standards are working in partnership with Public Health colleagues in order to raise awareness of the dangers of these drugs and to ensure that premises are compliant with legal requirements.

Cllr Martin Candler, Stockport Council’s Executive Member for Communities and Sustainability, and Cllr Patrick McAuley, Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, said: “A number of people have died after having consumed or smoked a so called “legal high” and more recently a number of Stockport school children have been admitted to hospital after taking these products. This campaign is aimed at protecting our young people from the massive harm and damage that these products can cause.  We are frustrated this is the limit of the Council’s ability to influence, and we would welcome a national debate in Parliament about the ‘highs’ epidemic. Stockport will continue to suffer from if the problems associated with ‘highs’ legal or otherwise continue.”

The initiative has widespread support amongst the local business community and the specific backing of the Stockport Town Centre Business & Retail Forum.

Officers have seized over 3000 products in one day following visits to retailers across Stockport and enforcement action will be taken should these products be confirmed to be unsafe.  Visits will continue to be undertaken and this work will run alongside an education campaign warning local schoolchildren of the dangers of misusing these products.

Members of the public wishing to report business premises selling these products are advised to contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

 

   3 Comments

3 Responses

  1. John Peoples says:

    Iain,
    These shops selling legal high’s to anybody, but especially schoolchildren should be named ! Not just a headline.

  2. ARTHUR Lampkin says:

    Bit concerned as been informed on GATLEY Facebook that an empty shop in GATLEY is going to be an E- cigarette shop but fear that it will also be selling legal highs as cannot see selling e-cigarettes will be viable. Will this shop be checked on also never saw any planning for this. Lots of children walk passed here on way to school.

  3. Stuart Thompson says:

    It is important not to produce a list of legal highs as this could be used by some people as a shopping list. Nevertheless, some of their nearest and dearest would welcome advise from a reliable source. The NHS has published suitable information at:

    http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/drugs/Pages/legalhighs.aspxd

    Remember that such lists include some substances that are under assessment or for which banning legislation is being prepared so they should be a warning to persons thinking about experimenting, or their families.

    This comment was submitted by a retired pharmacist. Currently practising pharmacists or medical practitioners should be approached if you need further advice.

Leave a Reply

You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>