NITROUS OXIDE - ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

Your local officers have recovered multiple full canisters of NITROUS OXIDE on MOSTYN AVENUE and LINDEN AVENUE WEMBLEY over the last few days.

Its use has well documented links to anti-social behaviour which can have a significant impact on communities, leading to an increased fear of crime. Another key concern is the particularly negative impact on the health of the young people who use it. 

If you see persons using nitrous oxide, then please report this by phone - via 101.

or 

online - https://www.met.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime

Nitrous oxide is a colourless gas, also known as ‘laughing gas’.

Nitrous oxide is a Class C drug, and it is an offence to possess it unless it can be shown it was possessed for one of the legitimate statutory exemptions. Nitrous oxide has widespread legitimate uses, including in medical, dental, and veterinary settings and those with a legitimate reason for possessing the substance will be exempt from the ban.

However, possession with the intent to wrongfully inhale the substance or to supply to another person for its wrongful inhalation is an offence. ‘Wrongful inhalation’ means inhalation for purposes other than medical or dental purposes or of nitrous oxide that has been released into the atmosphere. It includes inhalation for the substances psychological effects and the offence is designed to prevent people recreationally inhaling the substance for this reason. 

The consequences for the offence of unlawful possession could include an unlimited fine, a visible community punishment, a caution and for repeat serious offenders, a prison sentence.

It is also an offence to import, export, produce or supply nitrous oxide where a person intends to wrongfully inhale the substance or where the individual knows, or is reckless as to whether, it is likely that another person will wrongfully inhale it.

There is serious health risks associated with the use of nitrous oxide, heavy use can result in neurological damage and even death due to the risk of falling unconscious and/or suffocating from the lack of oxygen.

Thank you.