Larne Ulster Unionist Cllr Mark McKinty has welcomed the news that legal highs were last week removed from circulation in Larne, but warns of the long battle ahead for community safety.
Speaking following discussion with Larne Council Environmental Health officers, Cllr McKinty said: "It is extremely good news that more than 300 sachets of legal high substances were removed from sale in a shop on Dunluce Street in Larne last week.
The local election candidate, who is also the current Chair of the Larne Policing and Community Safety Partnership, has been lobbying the issue for some time: "In conjunction with my colleague Roy Beggs MLA, I raised the issue of legal highs at Council in March:
"Following the recent action taken by Belfast City Council to seize products it believed were illegal highs, the Court judgment agreeing that the products seized had inadequate labelling and safety information and authorising the council to destroy the items seized, what measures is Larne Borough Council taking in conjunction with the PSNI to protect the public and to use the precedence established to prevent the sale of similar products that are believed to be legal highs within the Borough of Larne. "
Consumer Protection Act 1987
The Director presented a report in relation to the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 relating to Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPSs) otherwise known as legal highs. The Director outlined the approach taken by Belfast City Council in relation to retailers known to be supplying NSPs and the outcome. On the basis of this, those Councils who believed that they had a “Head Shop” in their area intended to meet with staff from Belfast City Council on 12 March to look at a co-ordinated approach to the issue. The Director advised on the proposed course of action and he outlined the legal costs for taking forward an application for forfeiture.
Recommendation: Council endorse the approach proposed to deal with the sale of NPSs in the Larne area and the Council write to the Health Minister seeking a tightening of the legislative controls on NPSs. (This was supported unanimously).
"Following this question at Council, the matter was also raised at our April PCSP meeting, where members voiced concerns at the vulnerability of users, especially young people" said Cllr McKinty. "I was also alerted to the presence of a criminal gang travelling to Larne from Belfast in order to purchase the substances no longer available in Belfast. What was even more concerning was the fact they were also shoplifting in Larne to fund both their travel and their purchase".
"I praise the work of the PSNI and the Council officers who were last week able to remove sachets from circulation. Similar raids are continuing to take place around the country."
"The struggle remains ahead however to achieve a permanent resolution to the problem. My concerns are twofold: firstly, whilst these products are technically legal substances, and until prosectuions are brought forward under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, raided shops can be restocked in a matter of hours. Secondly, there is a very high risk that this market will be forced underground, making the gathering of evidence and the protection of our community more difficult."
"This is an issue which is affecting the health and wellbeing of many in our community, especially young people, and I fear where it may lead if not dealt with immediately. Given that this problem falls within the remit of several Executive departments, I would call on the Stormont Executive to make its resolution a priority. "
Speaking following discussion with Larne Council Environmental Health officers, Cllr McKinty said: "It is extremely good news that more than 300 sachets of legal high substances were removed from sale in a shop on Dunluce Street in Larne last week.
The local election candidate, who is also the current Chair of the Larne Policing and Community Safety Partnership, has been lobbying the issue for some time: "In conjunction with my colleague Roy Beggs MLA, I raised the issue of legal highs at Council in March:
"Following the recent action taken by Belfast City Council to seize products it believed were illegal highs, the Court judgment agreeing that the products seized had inadequate labelling and safety information and authorising the council to destroy the items seized, what measures is Larne Borough Council taking in conjunction with the PSNI to protect the public and to use the precedence established to prevent the sale of similar products that are believed to be legal highs within the Borough of Larne. "
Consumer Protection Act 1987
The Director presented a report in relation to the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 relating to Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPSs) otherwise known as legal highs. The Director outlined the approach taken by Belfast City Council in relation to retailers known to be supplying NSPs and the outcome. On the basis of this, those Councils who believed that they had a “Head Shop” in their area intended to meet with staff from Belfast City Council on 12 March to look at a co-ordinated approach to the issue. The Director advised on the proposed course of action and he outlined the legal costs for taking forward an application for forfeiture.
Recommendation: Council endorse the approach proposed to deal with the sale of NPSs in the Larne area and the Council write to the Health Minister seeking a tightening of the legislative controls on NPSs. (This was supported unanimously).
"Following this question at Council, the matter was also raised at our April PCSP meeting, where members voiced concerns at the vulnerability of users, especially young people" said Cllr McKinty. "I was also alerted to the presence of a criminal gang travelling to Larne from Belfast in order to purchase the substances no longer available in Belfast. What was even more concerning was the fact they were also shoplifting in Larne to fund both their travel and their purchase".
"I praise the work of the PSNI and the Council officers who were last week able to remove sachets from circulation. Similar raids are continuing to take place around the country."
"The struggle remains ahead however to achieve a permanent resolution to the problem. My concerns are twofold: firstly, whilst these products are technically legal substances, and until prosectuions are brought forward under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, raided shops can be restocked in a matter of hours. Secondly, there is a very high risk that this market will be forced underground, making the gathering of evidence and the protection of our community more difficult."
"This is an issue which is affecting the health and wellbeing of many in our community, especially young people, and I fear where it may lead if not dealt with immediately. Given that this problem falls within the remit of several Executive departments, I would call on the Stormont Executive to make its resolution a priority. "
