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Northumbria police release footage of legal high users Northumbria police release footage of legal high users
(35 minutes later)
Police have released CCTV images of legal high users stumbling around, falling over and collapsing unconscious on a city centre’s main shopping street. Police have released CCTV images of legal high users stumbling around, falling over and collapsing unconscious on Newcastle city centre’s main shopping street.
Different users in Newcastle’s Northumberland Street were caught on camera weaving in and out of shoppers, barely able to put one foot in front of the other and sometimes hitting the pavement. Different users in Northumberland Street were caught on camera weaving in and out of shoppers, barely able to put one foot in front of the other and sometimes hitting the pavement.
The problem in the city was so bad Northumbria police, the city council and ambulance chiefs set up a “New Psychoactive Substances” taskforce in January. The problem in the city was so bad Northumbria police, the city council and ambulance chiefs set up a “new psychoactive substances” taskforce in January.
Already the number of call-outs by police involving legal highs has dropped by half, and by almost two-thirds to the ambulance service, in the first month the taskforce has been running. The number of callouts by police involving legal highs dropped by half, and by almost two-thirds to the ambulance service, in the taskforce’s first month.
The area’s police and crime commissioner, Vera Baird, said the issue was a top priority and explained the aim was to disrupt the sale of legal highs.The area’s police and crime commissioner, Vera Baird, said the issue was a top priority and explained the aim was to disrupt the sale of legal highs.
Work has included undercover test purchases, executing search warrants and warnings being issued to shops threatening prosecution if they continue to sell them. There has also been educational work about the dangers of legal highs. Work has included undercover test purchases, executing search warrants and warnings being issued to shops threatening prosecution if they continue to sell the drugs. There has also been educational work about the dangers of legal highs.
Supt Richard Jackson said: “The aim of the taskforce was to find those responsible for selling legal highs and do as much as we could to make life difficult for them to do so, and the feedback we are getting from the streets is that legal highs have become harder to buy than ever before.”Supt Richard Jackson said: “The aim of the taskforce was to find those responsible for selling legal highs and do as much as we could to make life difficult for them to do so, and the feedback we are getting from the streets is that legal highs have become harder to buy than ever before.”
Head of resilience and special operations at North East Ambulance Service, Simon Swallow, said: “We are urging people not to take these so-called legal highs as they are putting their own lives in danger and also endangering the lives of others because these calls are potentially delaying our response to someone else who is suffering a heart attack or other life-threatening condition.” The head of resilience and special operations at the north-east ambulance service, Simon Swallow, said: “We are urging people not to take these so-called legal highs as they are putting their own lives in danger and also endangering the lives of others because these calls are potentially delaying our response to someone else who is suffering a heart attack or other life-threatening condition.”
Councillor Nick Kemp, of Newcastle city council, said: “Legal highs are a real and present danger to anyone who takes them, and as far as I am concerned the legislation that bans them can’t come quick enough.” Nick Kemp, a Newcastle city councillor, said: “Legal highs are a real and present danger to anyone who takes them, and as far as I am concerned the legislation that bans them can’t come quick enough.
“I hope that communities remain vigilant and contact the authorities if they see anyone dealing in them. The council will not hesitate to issue warning letters to those dealing in them as we can never be complacent about something as dangerous as legal highs.”“I hope that communities remain vigilant and contact the authorities if they see anyone dealing in them. The council will not hesitate to issue warning letters to those dealing in them as we can never be complacent about something as dangerous as legal highs.”