Shrewsbury police crack down on laughing gas craze
Police in Shrewsbury have pledged to crack down on the use of nitrous oxide in the town.
At a Team Shrewsbury meeting at the Guildhall, Sergeant Simon Morris revealed officers are finding dozens of 'laughing gas' cannisters every day.
He said there has been a rise in the number of teenagers using nitrous oxide as a cheap way to get high.
"People who are taking it perceive it to be a safe option," sergeant Morris said.
"As far as we're aware there's no long-term side effects but we don't know exactly what damage it has on young people. It's designed to inflate balloons so it's obviously not something you should be inhaling and putting in your body."
Shrewsbury Safer Neighbourhood Team has been visiting shops that sell nitrous oxide to warn them of the dangers, but said most teenagers are buying it on the internet.
"We were struggling to find where people were buying these canisters," he said.
"We approached a couple of retailers that sell them but then realised people are getting them on the internet and having them delivered straight to their door.
Concerned
"Obviously we can't tackle the internet but we have been going into schools to raise awareness. Parents should also be aware of their children getting large packages delivered to the house and should be asking questions."
Most of the empty canisters have been found in parks and near pubs which sergeant Morris said is deeply concerning. It is a trend that is being repeated in towns across Shropshire and Mid Wales.
He added: "Shrewsbury is surrounded by a big river so it makes me more concerned about what will happen if people take it so close to a dangerous river.
"We're all young once but we need to highlight the dangers of this drug."
Steve Jones from Shrewsbury Street Pastors said his team of volunteers have been finding up to 60 canisters at a time.
He said: "Drug taking is something street pastors on patrol look for. And although we haven't actually seen anyone taking it, we're seeing between 50 or 60 empty canisters at a time. The mix of nitrous oxide and alcohol is potentially lethal."
