Rebecca Harris MP for Castle Point welcomes news from Levelling Up Secretary, Michael Gove MP, that nitrous oxide has been banned in a Government clampdown on anti-social behaviour. The ban has made nitrous oxide a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Our parks and open spaces in Castle Point have been blighted with hundreds of discarded silver canisters and large gas canisters like the one featured in the photo of Benfleet Councillor, Sue Mumford and Rebecca Harris MP at the Keep Britain Tidy Spring Clean event in March 2023.

Sue Mumford said “This announcement is great news, during a group litter pick on the 11th of March we found 55 large canisters and 660 of the metal ones. It has been a growing problem and many residents have complained to me about the huge number of discarded ones around Castle Point. Along with my ward colleague, Clive Walter we successfully lobbied the Council to introduce a new scheme to collect them from residents for safe disposal”.

Consequences could include a fine, a community punishment, or (in the case of repeat offenders) a prison sentence. For more information, read the Home Office statement here.