Nitrous oxide seized and two arrested on the day new law passes

Officers arrested two people and seized a quantity of nitrous oxide cannisters – less than 24 hours after new legislation made the substance illegal to possess.

As of Wednesday 8 November, it is illegal to possess nitrous oxide for the purpose of getting high and it is now classified as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

This means that it is now a criminal offence to possess nitrous oxide without a legitimate reason, as opposed to just supply and intent to supply.

Under the legislation, repeat, serious users could face up to two years in prison while those convicted of supply it could face up to 14 years.

Read more: Nitrous Oxide now a Class C drug

Our officers have wasted little time putting the new legislation to good use.
An officer had stopped at Birchanger Services, near Bishop’s Stortford, at around 1pm on Wednesday 8 November.

They were approached by a member of the public, who directed them to a nearby car after raising concerns about suspicious activity.

Officers on patrol with Chigwell Roads Policing Unit attended and carried out a search of the vehicle in question.

A number of items were seized, including 19 nitrous oxide cannisters.

Two people, a 24-year-old man, from London, and a 23-year-old woman, from Buckhurst Hill, were arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class C drug with intent to supply.

They have been released on bail while enquiries continue.

On Sunday 12 November, less than a week after the new law was passed, officers responding to a disturbance in Grenville Road, Chafford Hundred, seized 60 cannisters of nitrous oxide from a vehicle.

Freddie Townley, 23, of Calshot Avenue, Chafford Hundred, was arrested and later charged with possessing a Class C drug with intent to supply, possessing a controlled drug of Class A and possessing a bladed article in public.

He will appear at Southend Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 30 November.

'Nitrous oxide use brings anti-social behaviour'

Superintendent Phillip Stinger, Head of Specialist Operations, said:

“We have welcomed the introduction of this new law, as it will give us as officers more options when dealing with the anti-social behaviour so often associated with the use and supply of nitrous oxide as a recreational substance.
“This means a proportionate approach to tackling those found in possession of nitrous oxide cannisters, including explaining the change in law and encouraging people not to use or by the substance.
“But where we are dealing with a larger number of cannisters, it is right we take robust and swift action and put this new legislation to use.
“The use of nitrous oxide in public spaces is a nuisance to communities and has been shown to pose a considerable health risk.”

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