COURT SEIZES ‘LEGAL HIGHS’ FOLLOWING SKUNKWORKS ORPINGTON RAID / MAN JAILED FOR JUMBO-SIZED 42-TONNE FLYTIP
COURT SEIZES ‘LEGAL HIGHS’ FOLLOWING SKUNKWORKS ORPINGTON RAID
Bromley magistrates have ordered the forfeiture of approximately £4500 worth of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) – also known as ‘legal highs’.
The substances had been seized by Bromley trading standards and police from Skunkworks in Orpington.
Trading standards made an application to the court under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and the court’s decision means that the seized products will not be returned to the business, said a Bromley council spokeswoman
“Police and trading standards raided Skunkworks in Orpington in February 2015 amid concerns that increasing antisocial behaviour in the area was the result of young people found in possession of and using NPS.
“There were also a number of medical emergencies, involving young people who had become ill from ingesting NPS allegedly purchased from the shop.
“The court was told NPS were chemical substances, which had been deliberately manufactured to mimic the effects of traditional recreational drugs.
“Despite the products having warnings such as ‘potpourri product only’ and ‘not for human consumption’ it was argued that the only use of these substances is for ingestion, and the warnings and instructions on use were wholly inadequate.
“Trading Standards applied for an order pursuant to Regulation 18(2)(c) of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 authorising the forfeiture of the goods specified as they are dangerous products
“It was argued that the products in question were manifestly “dangerous” within the meaning of regulation 2 of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and had only one possible market, viz human consumption, and that the warnings on the products are wholly inadequate given that market.
“The court granted the forfeiture on the basis that the substances were considered unsafe. “The application was not opposed by the owner of the business.”
Bromley council’s executive member for public protection and safety Cllr Kate Lymer said: “I welcome this decision by Bromley Magistrates. “This follows previous action taken by the Safer Bromley Partnership to tackle this problem and protect consumers and the local community from the effects of taking these substances.” (Source: Bromley council press release.)
MAN JAILED FOR JUMBO-SIZED 42-TONNE FLYTIP
A fly-tipper who illegally dumped rubbish weighing the same as six elephants has been jailed for six months by Croydon magistrates.
Croydon council officers prosecutedthe man for flytipping and illegally storing 42 tonnes of furniture and building material in Martin Crescent, Waddon between October 2011 and January 2012.
Croydon magistrates sentenced the 45-year-old man from Streatham Vale to six months in prison and ordered him to pay court costs totalling £7,413.
He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two charges under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act (Amended) 1990 and to breaching Section (1) (a) and (5) of the 1989 Control of Pollution Amendment Act.
The successful prosecution comes as part of the ongoing Don’t Mess With Croydon – Take Pride campaign, which combines council enforcement action with getting communities to do their bit. .
Croydon’s cabinet member for Clean and Green Croydon Cllr Stuart Collins said: “This illegal dump was on a staggering scale – 42 tonnes of waste are as heavy as six elephants.
“This case is a warning to all flytippers – our enforcement team will track and prosecute anyone who illegally stores or gets rid of waste in Croydon.”
Anyone with information on dumped waste should contact the council’s dedicated fly-tipping hotline on 020 8604 7000 or by emailing [email protected] (Source: Croydon council press release.)
