Nitrous oxide

Levelling up secretary says it is right to outlaw use of nitrous oxide because it fuels antisocial behaviour.

But he is yet to fully unveil a strategy to tackle violence against women and girls. Sunak’s plan comes days after Keir Starmer vowed to halve such violence within a decade. [he had been fortunate to have avoided jail](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/09/sajid-javid-hits-out-at-drug-users-in-wake-of-gove-confession) for possession of cocaine, after a book revealed he had taken the drug on several occasions while a journalist in his 30s. The Labour leader has made crime one of his five core missions. [advised not to ban laughing gas](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/mar/06/uks-drug-advisory-panel-reject-calls-to-ban-nitrous-oxide), but said the government had taken a different view. Asked if antisocial behaviour was the right priority for the government in the face of “terrible rates” of prosecution for rapes and violent crimes, the levelling up secretary replied: “I think you have to do both – you have to walk and chew gum.”

The sale of laughing gas to the public will be banned as part of a wider crackdown on antisocial behaviour, a Cabinet minister has confirmed.

The senior Conservative minister denied that his defence of the Government’s tougher laughing gas rules would be seen as hypocritical given he has previously admitted to taking the Class A drug cocaine. “And that is why we need to crackdown on new manifestations of drug taking and these laughing gas canisters are an increasing scourge.” Announcing the laughing gas ban, Mr Gove told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: “I think any of us who have had the opportunity to walk through our parks in our major cities will have seen these little canisters, these silver canisters which are examples of people not only despoiling public spaces but also people taking a drug which can have a psychological and neurological affect and one that contributes to anti-social behaviour overall.”

Rather than claiming harms from the drug itself, Michael Gove cited secondary impacts of drug-taking - such as the littering of metallic canisters.

It also raised concerns about “significant burdens for legitimate medical, industrial, commercial, and academic uses” if a ban goes ahead. The minister denied that his defence of the Government’s tougher laughing gas rules would be seen as hypocritical given he has previously admitted to taking the Class A drug cocaine. It has a number of medical uses, such as in surgery and dentistry, where it is used as an anaesthetic. He did not say whether it would be considered Class A, B or C – which will determine the severity of penalties for possession. But drugs reform campaigners voiced their opposition to the move. It is also used recreationally – typically inhaled in balloons filled from small canisters, for short-lived feelings of euphoria, relaxation and calmness. “Officers would welcome the ability to seize and dispose of nitrous oxide, as well as provide warnings and carry out arrests, depending on the situation.” “A blanket ban on nitrous oxide is completely disproportionate to the harms that are caused by nitrous oxide and would likely deliver more harm than good. They point to findings from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which concluded a review of the drug just weeks ago and concluded there is He added: “We can’t have a situation, we mustn’t have a situation where our drugs, our public spaces become drug-taking arenas and that is why we need to crack down on new manifestations of drug-taking.” While use of nitrous oxide can cause dizziness and it is dangerous to inhale too much at once, there is little evidence of addiction issues or long-term harms related to moderate use of the drug – with the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs assessing this month that the number of deaths connected to it “remains low when compared to other drugs”. He said use of the drug had become a “scourge” as he vowed a “crackdown on new manifestations of drug-taking”.

In a bid to crackdown on anti-social behaviour, nitrous oxide is set to be banned under new plans.

The plan aims to establish a “zero-tolerance approach where offenders know they will face the full consequences of their actions”. Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is the second most commonly used drug among people in the 16-24 age group after cannabis. “Antisocial behaviour can ruin lives,” Mr Gove said when confirming the ban.

Michael Gove has announced the government's plan to ban nitrous oxide in their efforts to clamp down on anti social behaviour. Gove made the announcement ...

Commonly known as laughing gas or hippy crack, nitrous oxide has become the second most popular used drug by 16-24 year-olds in the country. The gas is meant to be used by medical experts such as dentists to sedate patients undergoing minor medical procedures. While the common risks can mean the user will feel faint, lose consciousness, or possibly suffocate. Michael Gove has announced the government's plan to ban nitrous oxide in their efforts to clamp down on anti social behaviour. [ teenagers during the pandemic ](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/laughing-gas-canisters-teenagers-pandemic-18508749)and last year a 16-year-old boy 'almost died' when he was rushed to hospital after [inhaling laughing gas at Parklife.](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/boy-16-rushed-hospital-almost-24282028) READ MORE:

MICHAEL Gove said the UK Government plans to ban the sale of laughing gas to stop public areas being turned into drug-taking "arenas".

And that is why we need to crackdown on new manifestations of drug taking and these laughing gas canisters are an increasing scourge and one that has been reported to me as a constituency MP." The news from Mr Gove is sure to be welcomed in Nitrous Oxide (N2O), which is also known as ‘hippie crack’ and 'nitty', is a gas commonly used in the medical and catering industry.

The levelling up secretary confirmed the ban on Sunday morning, saying that 'anti-social behaviour can ruin lives'

Jay Jackson, secretariat of the Labour Campaign for Drug Policy Reform, criticised the policy for going against the ACMD and said it will “waste huge amounts of police time and money”. But chief constable Richard Lewis of the National Police Chiefs’ Council said: “Policing would support making possession of nitrous oxide, without a legitimate reason, a criminal offence, as opposed to just supply and intent to supply. The report stated it should not be banned because it “would be disproportionate for the level of harm associated with nitrous oxide and could have significant unintended consequences”. She added: “If this Government is serious about addressing the problems with nitrous oxide then it would listen to the experts who are recommending a health-led approach supported by better use of existing controls.” He called Labour’s position “disappointing” and said the opposition and the Government are in an “arms race” for who can offer the “most regressive” drug policy. He added that littering is already illegal and it is “unrealistic” to expect overstretched police forces to spend time and resources enforcing the ban.

Footage of the 22-year-old full-back, who has failed to break into Manchester United's first team this season, was filmed near the club's training ground.

It's irresponsible considering he's a public figure. 'And we're going to expand drug testing on arrest, to include drugs such as ecstasy and cannabis, as well as extending the range of situations that can trigger a drugs test in the first place.' [The Sun](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/21841867/man-utd-brandon-williams-inhale-hippy-crack/) he seems to pass a canister of the high to a rear passenger in the car while he is videoed from another vehicle. The 22-year-old full-back, who has failed to break into the club's first team this season, was filmed appearing to breathe in the laughing gas as a passenger in a moving Mercedes Brabus supercar. Manchester United star Brandon Williams has been pictured appearing to inhale the legal high nitrous oxide from a balloon near the club's training grounds. Manchester United star Brendon Williams is caught appearing to 'inhale nitrous oxide from a balloon' while in passenger seat of Mercedes

MANCHESTER United star Brandon Williams appears to inhale nitrous oxide from a balloon near the club's training ground.The £60000-a-week full back.

[Middlesbrough](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/team/1225558/middlesbrough/) in recent weeks after failing to break into United’s first team. [The defender](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/21144056/man-utd-brandon-williams-loan-transfer/) joined his hometown club in 2008, rising through the Red Devils’ youth teams to make 51 professional appearances. [Man United](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/team/1196656/manchester-united/) and his agent were contacted for comment. [Manchester](https://www.thesun.co.uk/where/manchester/)-born [Williams](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/21551934/man-utd-ten-hag-summer-transfer-glazers-maguire-martial/) has played just five minutes of football this season under [ten Hag](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/erik-ten-hag/). [Suella Braverman](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/suella-braverman/) pledged new measures to crack down on the “unacceptable” use of the gas. [The £60,000-a-week full back](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/brandon-williams/), 22, was a passenger in a parked Brabus [supercar](https://www.thesun.co.uk/topic/supercars/). [criminal](https://www.thesun.co.uk/topic/crime/) offence to supply nitrous oxide to get high but not to possess it. [drug](https://www.thesun.co.uk/topic/drugs/) comes at the risk of heart attacks and brain damage, while prolonged use can lead to memory loss and vitamin deficiency. [Nitrous oxide](https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/21168302/drug-illegal-crackdown-antisocial-behaviour/) is an anaesthetic gas popular among young Brits who inhale it for a light-headed, short-lived euphoric high.

Police will also have greater drug testing powers as part of crackdown on antisocial behaviour.

[Suella Braverman](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/suella-braverman), said: “There is no such thing as petty crime – not only does antisocial behaviour leave people feeling unsafe, it can also be a gateway into serious criminality. He also said a Labour government would never dismiss crime as “low-level”, suggesting that even apparently minor issues such as repeatedly smoking cannabis near children’s windows had a devastating effect on people’s lives. The public have rightly had enough, which is why I am determined to restore people’s confidence that those responsible will be quickly and visibly punished. But criminalising possession of nitrous oxide will increase health and social harms associated with it, creating new costs across the criminal justice system. It said such control could create “significant burdens” for legitimate uses of the substance. Cleaning up graffiti, litter picking or washing police cars have all been given as possible punishments.

The possession of nitrous oxide is to be made illegal under government plans to tackle anti-social behaviour. But what is 'laughing gas' and why is it being ...

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has welcomed the Government's ban of nitrous oxide gas, after the drug had put “immense pressure” on the ...

The independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) was asked by the Home Office in 2021 to provide advice on whether to make possession of nitrous oxide a crime. “The intervention by the Government has come at a critical time, as businesses in major cities across the UK have seen the challenges around nitrous oxide escalate dramatically in the past six to 12 months.” NTIA chief executive Michael Kill said: “We welcome the announcement by the Government today that nitrous oxide is set to be banned under new government plans to clamp down on anti-social behaviour.

The government defends new plans to tackle anti-social behaviour by clamping down on nitrous oxide.

A few areas will trial both schemes. According to the ACDM, the number of deaths and demand for treatment for problematic use of nitrous oxide remains low compared with other drugs. Prof Adam Winstock, an addiction medicine specialist and founder of the Global Drug Survey, told the BBC that getting a criminal record "is going to be a far greater harm than the risks for the vast majority of people using nitrous oxide". Also under the plan,16 areas will get funding for either "hotspot" policing or a new "immediate justice" scheme to deliver swift and visible punishments for anti-social behaviour. Unveiling his plans to clamp down on anti-social behaviour on Monday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said there was a need for a "zero-tolerance" approach and stressed the importance of "immediate justice". Steve Rolles, senior policy analyst at the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, said criminalising nitrous oxide would "hand control of the product to criminal gangs".

One of the key strands of Michael Gove's plans to tackle antisocial behaviour is a ban on the recreational use of nitrous oxide.

An assessment by the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) concluded it would be disproportionate to bring in an outright ban. I don’t think it will stop people doing it.” The move to ban the recreational use of nitrous oxide is part of the Government’s wider crackdown on antisocial behaviour. Nitrous oxide is currently legal to possess for personal use but current legislation bans the knowing or reckless supply of the drug. In medical settings, a gas consisting of equal parts of nitrous oxide and oxygen is used as a form of pain relief, most commonly during labour – when it is referred to as gas and air. [ban on the recreational use of nitrous oxide](https://inews.co.uk/news/nitrous-oxide-banned-uk-michael-gove-confirms-2233805?ico=in-line_link).

Nitrous oxide, sold in metal canisters, is known as NOS and is one of the most-used drugs by UK 16 to 24-year-olds. The details are expected ...

Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell said its use "causes a huge amount of littering disruption and anti-social behaviour". This is a particularly ugly example of performative politics." The law makes production, supply and importation of nitrous oxide for human consumption illegal, but not possession. The details are expected to be released on Monday. "It is unacceptable. Public drug use, fly-tipping and low-level crimes such as graffiti are to be targeted with a strategy of "hotspot" policing and "short and sharp" punishments. Prof Adam Winstock, an addiction medicine specialist and founder of the Global Drug Survey, told the BBC that getting a criminal record "is going to be a far greater harm than the risks for the vast majority of people using nitrous oxide". It said sanctions for the offences would be disproportionate with the level of harm associated with nitrous oxide, as well as creating "significant burdens" for legitimate uses of the substance. Steve Rolles, senior policy analyst at the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, said: "The idea that this is a deterrent effect is ridiculous it just criminalises users and will hand control of the product to criminal gangs. Outlining the reasons behind the nitrous oxide ban, the government said it was "concerned about the rise in health and social harms" of laughing gas, "particularly to young people". "We are for the first time making possession of nitrous oxide an offence; preventing supply for misuse by putting tighter controls on retailers; and giving greater powers to law enforcement to take action against those who are in breach," it added. There will also be tighter controls on retailers to prevent the supply of nitrous oxide for misuse.