Social media video shows frustration over Nitrous Oxide use

Videos circulating on social media show a group targeting Nitrous Oxide use at a car park in the Bradford district.

Passengers using Nitrous Oxide rolled their windows down and were demanded to hand over all the canisters in their cars. 

Those attempting to purge the streets of laughing gas then filmed the process of emptying the haul.

The crackdown was organised via Snapchat with the user sending a message to “any real men out there that want to go speak to these balloon heads and sort their heads out”.

“We’re not meeting for a chit chat and a laugh,” the post read.

“We’re going to find and deal with these balloon heads, enough is enough.”

It comes after a group of balaclava-clad men and boys threatened to take action about what they described as a “balloons pandemic” in Birmingham.

Now Bradford’s leading anti-Nitrous Oxide campaigners are urging people to help find a lawful and long-term solution instead.

Sofia Buncy MBE holds a canister (Image: Newsquest)

The worrying trend of people taking balloons - even behind the wheel - has been reported across the UK. 

Sold for a cheap price on social media and in shops, laughing gas has become one of Britain’s biggest intoxicants.

West Yorkshire Police has issued a renewed warning about the risks of using Nitrous Oxide - including serious health complications and death.

Superintendent Richard Padwell, of Bradford District Police, said: “We are aware of concerns in the community regarding the use of nitrous oxide canisters.

“Bradford District itself is covered by a first of its kind district wide Public Space Protection order (PSPO) managed by Bradford Council which prohibits drivers from causing activity while in cars which can cause alarm, harassment or distress.

“Over the last few weeks, we have reported a number of people to be fined for using a vehicle anti-socially under the Council’s PSPO. 

In March, police held an event in Centenary Square to show the dangers of driving under the influence of Nitrous Oxide (Image: West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service)

“Police would strongly advise against people using substances that may impair their driving ability.

“Directly inhaling Nitrous Oxide is dangerous and there is a real risk of serious health complications or death.

“It is a controlled drug under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 – which makes it an offence to supply the drug onto another. What some may not know is that passing their friend a nitrous oxide canister is still classed as supply and they could face a criminal record in doing so.

“Local Neighbourhood police teams are continuing to work with the community and partners including health colleagues to raise awareness about the dangers of nitrous oxide and the impacts it has on driving.”

The silver vials first reached the radars of community leaders in Bradford at the height of Covid-19.

It sparked a call for action from Sofia Buncy MBE DL, national co-ordinator at the Khidmat Centre; Sharat Hussain, youth worker and founder of Mary Magdalene CiC; and the Young in Covid team. 

Sharat Hussain, pictured

Speaking about the video’s impact, Sharat said: “It’s a message they’re sending. That video was sending a message out to say, we’re coming for you now if you carry on doing it on our doorstep.”

But action like this can escalate fast, he warned.

“It can go wrong,” Sharat said.

“Once you’ve got somebody who doesn’t agree with what they’re doing, it’s going to trigger off something eventually.

“The way they’re going about their business is not going the right way as it might escalate to something they don’t want.”

Sofia said: “It is evident that members of the Bradford community are becoming aware of the menace of nitrous oxide and its impact on local community safety. Recently videos have been referenced which show concerned community members confiscating nitrous oxide canisters from the cars of those parked up and ‘using’. 

“Although this may be well intentioned, it does have legal implications and thus communities need to be working with the authorities to find a long term permanent solution.

“The Khidmat Centres in collaboration with the police, community and youth groups, and the local T&A have been campaigning hard with our local MPs to ban the illegitimate use of this substance or to introduce tighter control to its access.

“We are encouraged that the community feel they are playing a proactive role but law enforcement and controlling the illegitimate use of the substance has to be that of authorities. Whereas we recognise the frustration of communities, we encourage at the same time authorities and communities to be pulling together.”