After Government advice on restricting the supply of nitrous oxide for recreational use was withdrawn, local councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has written to the Home Office seeking for an urgent update on the issue.

The advice was withdrawn three weeks ago (July 23), citing that it no longer represents Government policy, but with no link to any new advice, and with no indication of replacement advice in the Home Office’s news and communications.

Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “There is no part of our borough where you do not see these small canisters left around, night after night. Both myself and the Liberal Democrat leader Howard Sykes have raised this at council meetings. We need to ensure that more is done to stop their abuse.

“As such, I have written to the Home Office today to ask where the replacement advice is, or if there is none, how soon it will be released. It is simply not good enough to withdraw this without having an alternative in place.”

The canisters are readily available on the internet and – due to its legal uses – over the counter. Potentially, users can lose consciousness due to a lack of oxygen to the brain, and long-term side effects include psychosis and depression. In the aftermath of the illegal rave in Daisy Nook, thousands of canisters were found.

“This is a problem which is not going away,” continued Sam. “Previous changes to legislation have failed to stem its use. Hopefully the withdrawal of this advice is a sign of progress on a new policy, but as nothing public seems to have replaced it, we simply don’t know. It seems to be another indication of a Government that is reacting, and not planning.”

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