SELLING legal highs is now a criminal offence with officers in Warrington calling on stores and suppliers in the town to surrender their stock as part of a psychoactive substance amnesty.

From today, Thursday, it is illegal to sell or supply any psychoactive substance.

Recent figures reveal that in the past three years in Cheshire there has been a rise in incidents linked to legal highs by nearly 200 per cent. 

Cheshire Police have launched a week-long legal high hand-in for people in the town to dispose of these items by midnight on Wednesday without fear of prosecution.

Detective chief inspector Paul Beauchamp said: “In Cheshire we are dealing with more incidents each year that involve the use of psychoactive substances. 

"Last year nearly 20 per cent of all incidents relating to psychoactive substances involved young people aged 16 years old or younger. 

“We have taken the rise in these substances and the harm they are causing seriously and have already used existing anti-social behaviour legislation to take action against premises selling them."

A number of community protection notices have been previously served on a number of premises in Warrington prohibiting the stores from selling and distributing legal highs. 

DCI Beauchamp added: “This isn’t about criminalising those who use these substances, but aimed at the producers, distributors and dealers. 

“Just because they’re known as legal highs doesn’t mean to say they are safe, they are lethal. 

"They can kill and people are dicing with their life each time they take one.” 

Psychoactive substances are often referred to as legal highs and used as an umbrella term for products that are intended to mimic the effects of controlled drugs. 

The new legislation will change the way forces tackle psychoactive substances and give police the power to shut down shops that are trading in legal highs as well as those who import the products.

Cllr Pat Wright, Warrington Borough Council executive board member for statutory health and adult social care, said: “The abuse of psychoactive substances in Warrington has been clearly shown to be having a detrimental effect both on our residents and our communities. 

“These substances are not safe for human consumption and the consequences for those taking them can be extremely serious and sometimes even fatal.”