Town could be one of first to ban legal highs
STOCKPORT could be the first borough in Greater Manchester to ban legal highs.
The town’s Labour group wants to see a blanket ban – including on sales in the town centre.
They want the council’s chief executive, Eamonn Boylan, to ask the government to give town hall bosses and police powers to tackle the rise in use of psychoactive substances.
Members want the Home Secretary to tell them how best to implement a blanket ban on the substances – including an end to shops selling them over the counter.
Labour Councillor Chris Murphy said: “I am pushing for Stockport Council and Greater Manchester Police to be given the powers needed to tackle this increasing problem.”
The proposal has the backing of the Tories but needs the ruling Lib Dems to support it.
If brought in the move could see the closure of around a dozen shops identified by police in Stockport as selling the substances.
STOCKPORT could become the first borough in Greater Manchester to ban legal highs.
The town’s Labour group wants to see a blanket ban – including sales in the town centre.
They want the council’s chief executive, Eamonn Boylan, to ask the government to give town hall bosses and police powers to tackle the rise in use of psychoactive substances.
Members want the Home Secretary to tell them how best to implement a blanket ban on the substances – including an end to shops selling them over the counter.
Labour Councillor Chris Murphy said: “I am pushing for Stockport Council and Greater Manchester Police to be given the powers needed to tackle this increasing problem.”
The proposal has the backing of the Tories but needs the ruling Lib Dems to support it.
A Psychoactive Substances Bill was announced in the Queen’s Speech.
It would make it an offence to produce, supply, offer to supply, possess with intent to supply, import or export what are currently known as legal highs.
The laws could see the closure of around a dozen shops identified by police and council bosses which sell them in Stockport.
Lincoln became the first place in the UK to ban legal highs in February when councillors backed a Public Space Protection Order to stop people using them openly.
Blackpool Council recently issued community protection notices to all shops prohibiting the sale of psychoactive substances.
A scheme has already been launched in Stockport to prevent the sale of products such as nitrous oxide and poppers, but it is voluntary.
The responsible retailer scheme has seen three out of 13 businesses identified as selling legal highs sign up to pledge they will take them off the shelves.
Those that persist will face enforcement action in the form of police visits to seize any products not compliant with labelling or composition requirements.
Stockport MP Ann Coffey said the move, while a step forward, ‘isn’t enough’, and is urging the government to quickly bring about a widespread ban through new legislation.
She said: “The scheme in the town centre is a start. But it isn’t enough.
“It’s in the best interests of the shops – and everybody else – for these substances to be banned.
“They give rise to antisocial behaviour, which affects everybody.”
Labour’s motion is due before the council chamber on Thursday.