A CAMPAIGNER in Bradford has welcomed government plans to ban sale of laughing gas to the public as part of a wider crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said the "scourge" of nitrous oxide is turning public spaces into "drug-taking arenas" and is helping fuel anti-social behaviour that ministers are determined to stamp out.

The ban comes despite an assessment by the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) concluding it would be disproportionate to bring in an outright ban given the level of harm associated with nitrous oxide.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The silver canisters, pictured left, and right, the larger Nitrous Oxide tubes now seen on the streetsThe silver canisters, pictured left, and right, the larger Nitrous Oxide tubes now seen on the streets (Image: Newsquest)

But Mr Gove said he agrees with a view pushed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman that tougher action is required.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O), which is also known as ‘hippie crack’ and 'nitty', is a gas commonly used in the medical and catering industry.

Sofia Buncy MBE, national co-ordinator at the Khidmat Centre in Bradford, has spoken out against how the ‘hippy crack’ culture was impacting the district.

She has welcomed Mr Gove’s announcement today (Sunday, March 26) about the ban on sales of laughing gas to the public.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Sofia Buncy has been an anti-nitrous oxide campaigner over the last three years in particular Sofia Buncy has been an anti-nitrous oxide campaigner over the last three years in particular (Image: Newsquest)

Mrs Buncy says he has highlighted the problems associated with nitrous oxide for the last three years, even writing to then-Home Secretary Priti Patel about the issue in Bradford.

Mrs Buncy said: “Khidmat Centres and I personally welcome Michael Gove’s statement this morning that the government is considering a serious clampdown on the access to and the abuse of nitrous oxide.

“For those of us in the Bradford community this issue has been on the radar for over three years.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The sale of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is to be banned by the Government, Communities Secretary Michael Gove has announcedThe sale of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is to be banned by the Government, Communities Secretary Michael Gove has announced (Image: PA)

“We have been pressing the government from various channels to take this menace seriously and I distinctly recall writing to the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, about this growing issue back in June 2020.

“The adverse effects of this harmful substance are environmental and as many such as the Minister may consider aesthetically displeasing.

“However, more importantly for young people mental & adults the neurological and psychological harms and long terms consequences of this are now also coming to fruition based on an increasing evidence base provided by medical practitioners.”

The impact of nitrous oxide on those who take it led to it being included in the second Young In Covid film, called Routes to Recovery, which was released earlier this month.

The 23-minute-long film includes a section on laughing gas in the Bradford district and what steps are being taken to help those who use it. The film features an interview with PC Huss Ali, youth engagement officer – stronger communities at West Yorkshire Police.

Mrs Buncy added: “The frightening exacerbation and easy accessibility in usage of nitrous oxide has concerned us so much that the issue has also been raised by young people in our Bradford based and young people-led film which was released this week called Young in Covid: Routes to Recovery.

“It is encouraging to see our community-led persistence is paying dividends and the government is moving on the issue.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Communities Secretary Michael Gove Communities Secretary Michael Gove (Image: PA)

The Telegraph & Argus has been pushing for a ban on the gas - also known as 'hippy crack' - due to the serious effects it can have on users.

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."

He said ministers have not yet decided at what drug classification level laughing gas would be set, only that the Government wants sales "restricted for its appropriate purpose".

 

Nitrous oxide is included as an anaesthetic in medical and dental contexts and as a gas for whipped cream.

Mr Gove added: "We can't have a situation, we mustn't have a situation where our parks, our public spaces become drug-taking arenas.

"And that is why we need to crack down on new manifestations of drug-taking and these laughing gas canisters are an increasing scourge."

Current legislation bans the knowing or reckless supply of nitrous oxide for inhalation, with dealers facing up to seven years in jail.

But there have been calls for a ban on all direct consumer sales.

According to the Office for National Statistics, there were 36 deaths in Great Britain associated with nitrous oxide between 2001 and 2016.