Embargoed not for
publication or broadcast until 00.01 Thursday 19 May - Festival
organisers warned over the dangers of so-called 'legal highs'
Music festival
organisers were today asked to review their measures for tackling
illicit drug use at their events by Baroness Browning, the
government's new minister for crime prevention and
antisocial behaviour reduction.
In an open letter to all the major summer events, Baroness
Browning also expressed her concern over the demand for so-called
'legal highs' and called for increased vigilance.
The minister warned that some people may be openly selling
potentially illegal and harmful substances at festivals under the
guise of seemingly innocent 'bath salts' or
'plant food'.
Baroness Angela Browning said:
"While people selling these products may give the
impression they are legal and safe, they are more than likely not
legal, and are certainly not safe.
"Some of these substances are so novel anyone taking
them is playing Russian roulette with their health. And if you are
caught selling or buying them you could face arrest and prosecution.
"The festival season is one of our great summer
traditions and we want people to enjoy it responsibly and without
breaking the law. We know organisers are alert to this worrying
trend and I am inviting them once again to review the measures
they have in place. We want to help ensure festivals are as safe
an environment as possible to help protect the public, especially
young people, from the potential harms and risks of all
drugs."
Public Health Minister Anne Milton said:
"For many people, music festivals are the highlight
of their summer and it is important that they are able to enjoy
themselves as safely as possible.
"'So-called 'legal highs'
can contain a range of potentially very harmful chemicals, some of
which may also be illegal to possess. Young people need to know
that they can never be 100 per cent certain about what's
in a 'legal high'. Just because its called a
'legal high', it doesn't mean that it
is legal or safe. The effects and reactions people have to these
can be unpredictable, especially when combined with alcohol.
"I value the assistance and co-operation of the
festival organisers. We want to do all we can to stop people using
drugs in the first place. We want young people to have a good
time, but we want them to stay safe."
The government will be working with enforcement officers and
organisers at a number of festivals over the summer to help
identify emerging new psychoactive substances as part of work to
improve our Forensic Early Warning System.
The government has also introduced legislative proposals for a
new 12 month temporary banning order for new psychoactive
substances to protect the public while our independent experts,
the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), assess the
harms they pose.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. For a copy of the letter please go to www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/media-centre/letter-festival-organisers
2. The government launched its drug strategy in December
2010. For more information please go to www.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs/drug-strategy-2010/
3. For more information on temporary banning orders please go to
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/alcohol-drugs/drugs/temporary-bans/
4. For more information on the work of the ACMD please go to www.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs/acmd/
5. Anyone seeking information on the risks and dangers of so
called 'legal highs', as well as illegal drugs,
should go to the FRANK website www.talktofrank.com or call
the confidential helpline on 0800 77 66 00.
6. For further information please contact the Home Office press office.
Contacts:
Home Office Press Office
Phone: 020 7035 3535
NDS.HO@coi.gsi.gov.uk