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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) arrests, (b) charges, (c) cautions and (d) convictions relating to the unlawful possession, supply or production of nitrous oxide have been recorded since the substance became a Class C drug, broken down by police force area.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) arrests, (b) charges, (c) cautions and (d) convictions relating to the unlawful possession, supply or production of nitrous oxide have been recorded since the substance became a Class C drug, broken down by police force area.
Data on the prevalence of misuse of nitrous oxide is published by the Office for National Statistics, through the Crime Survey for England and Wales. In the year ending March 2025, 0.5% of 16- to 59-year-olds in England and Wales reported using nitrous oxide in the last year. This is the lowest proportion of nitrous oxide users reported in the Crime Survey for England and Wales and the reported proportion of users has reduced each year since the substance became a Class C drug. Data is available here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/drugmisuseinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2025 There is no data available on the sale of nitrous oxide. The availably of the requested enforcement data relating to the unlawful possession, supply or production of nitrous oxide is detailed below: (a) The Home Office collects and publishes data on arrests in England and Wales as part of the ‘Police Powers and Procedures’ statistical series, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/stop-and-search-arrests-and-mental-health-detentions-march-2025. However, the data on arrests is collected by Home Office Crime Recording offence group only, for example ‘Drug Offences’. Data on arrests specifically for unlawful possession, supply or production of nitrous oxide is not available. (b and c) The Home Office will publish granular data on police recorded drug offences and their investigative outcomes including charges and cautions for unlawful possession, supply or production of nitrous oxide offences on the 23rd of July 2026. This will be available by police force area. (d) The Ministry of Justice publishes convictions data, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly-december-2025. The ‘All-Offences prosecutions and convictions: December 2025’ tables include all convictions by police force area for unlawful possession, supply or production of nitrous oxide. Since nitrous oxide became a Class C drug, there have been 820 convictions, with 763 of these being for possession. |
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of trends in the prevalence of the sale and misuse of nitrous oxide canisters since the introduction of the ban under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; and if she will publish data on enforcement...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of trends in the prevalence of the sale and misuse of nitrous oxide canisters since the introduction of the ban under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; and if she will publish data on enforcement...
Data on the prevalence of misuse of nitrous oxide is published by the Office for National Statistics, through the Crime Survey for England and Wales. In the year ending March 2025, 0.5% of 16- to 59-year-olds in England and Wales reported using nitrous oxide in the last year. This is the lowest proportion of nitrous oxide users reported in the Crime Survey for England and Wales and the reported proportion of users has reduced each year since the substance became a Class C drug. Data is available here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/drugmisuseinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2025 There is no data available on the sale of nitrous oxide. The availably of the requested enforcement data relating to the unlawful possession, supply or production of nitrous oxide is detailed below: (a) The Home Office collects and publishes data on arrests in England and Wales as part of the ‘Police Powers and Procedures’ statistical series, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/stop-and-search-arrests-and-mental-health-detentions-march-2025. However, the data on arrests is collected by Home Office Crime Recording offence group only, for example ‘Drug Offences’. Data on arrests specifically for unlawful possession, supply or production of nitrous oxide is not available. (b and c) The Home Office will publish granular data on police recorded drug offences and their investigative outcomes including charges and cautions for unlawful possession, supply or production of nitrous oxide offences on the 23rd of July 2026. This will be available by police force area. (d) The Ministry of Justice publishes convictions data, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly-december-2025. The ‘All-Offences prosecutions and convictions: December 2025’ tables include all convictions by police force area for unlawful possession, supply or production of nitrous oxide. Since nitrous oxide became a Class C drug, there have been 820 convictions, with 763 of these being for possession. |
Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.
Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of local authority powers to tackle antisocial drug taking.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of local authority powers to tackle antisocial drug taking.
The Government keeps the powers available to local authorities and other partners to tackle anti-social behaviour under regular review. We consider the current framework provides a broad and flexible toolkit to tackle to anti-social drug misuse.
It is unlawful to possess or supply controlled drugs without a Home Office licence, and we expect the police to enforce the law. As a Class B drug, the maximum penalty for possession of cannabis is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
The Government is taking a range of actions to tackle anti-social drug misuse, including cannabis. We are providing more visible, community-focused policing through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, supported by the Neighbourhood Policing Increase Grant, which will deliver 13,000 additional policing personnel into neighbourhood roles, and introducing Respect Orders to strengthen the powers available to police and other agencies. Every police force also now has a published anti-social behaviour plan and a dedicated lead.
The police, local authorities and other relevant agencies have a range of flexible powers to respond to anti-social behaviour, including drug misuse. These include the powers provided by the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, such as the Closure Power, which can be used to shut down premises associated with nuisance or disorder. In addition, under section 17(1)(b) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, police officers may enter a property without a warrant to arrest a person for an indictable offence where there are reasonable grounds to believe the person is on the premises.
The use of such powers is an operational matter for the police and must be exercised in a lawful, necessary and proportionate manner in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act Codes of Practice.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing policing powers to tackle antisocial drug smoking.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing policing powers to tackle antisocial drug smoking.
The Government keeps the powers available to local authorities and other partners to tackle anti-social behaviour under regular review. We consider the current framework provides a broad and flexible toolkit to tackle to anti-social drug misuse.
It is unlawful to possess or supply controlled drugs without a Home Office licence, and we expect the police to enforce the law. As a Class B drug, the maximum penalty for possession of cannabis is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
The Government is taking a range of actions to tackle anti-social drug misuse, including cannabis. We are providing more visible, community-focused policing through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, supported by the Neighbourhood Policing Increase Grant, which will deliver 13,000 additional policing personnel into neighbourhood roles, and introducing Respect Orders to strengthen the powers available to police and other agencies. Every police force also now has a published anti-social behaviour plan and a dedicated lead.
The police, local authorities and other relevant agencies have a range of flexible powers to respond to anti-social behaviour, including drug misuse. These include the powers provided by the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, such as the Closure Power, which can be used to shut down premises associated with nuisance or disorder. In addition, under section 17(1)(b) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, police officers may enter a property without a warrant to arrest a person for an indictable offence where there are reasonable grounds to believe the person is on the premises.
The use of such powers is an operational matter for the police and must be exercised in a lawful, necessary and proportionate manner in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act Codes of Practice.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle cannabis use.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle cannabis use.
The Government keeps the powers available to local authorities and other partners to tackle anti-social behaviour under regular review. We consider the current framework provides a broad and flexible toolkit to tackle to anti-social drug misuse.
It is unlawful to possess or supply controlled drugs without a Home Office licence, and we expect the police to enforce the law. As a Class B drug, the maximum penalty for possession of cannabis is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
The Government is taking a range of actions to tackle anti-social drug misuse, including cannabis. We are providing more visible, community-focused policing through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, supported by the Neighbourhood Policing Increase Grant, which will deliver 13,000 additional policing personnel into neighbourhood roles, and introducing Respect Orders to strengthen the powers available to police and other agencies. Every police force also now has a published anti-social behaviour plan and a dedicated lead.
The police, local authorities and other relevant agencies have a range of flexible powers to respond to anti-social behaviour, including drug misuse. These include the powers provided by the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, such as the Closure Power, which can be used to shut down premises associated with nuisance or disorder. In addition, under section 17(1)(b) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, police officers may enter a property without a warrant to arrest a person for an indictable offence where there are reasonable grounds to believe the person is on the premises.
The use of such powers is an operational matter for the police and must be exercised in a lawful, necessary and proportionate manner in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act Codes of Practice.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to increase policing powers to help tackle cannabis smoking within homes.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to increase policing powers to help tackle cannabis smoking within homes.
The Government keeps the powers available to local authorities and other partners to tackle anti-social behaviour under regular review. We consider the current framework provides a broad and flexible toolkit to tackle to anti-social drug misuse.
It is unlawful to possess or supply controlled drugs without a Home Office licence, and we expect the police to enforce the law. As a Class B drug, the maximum penalty for possession of cannabis is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
The Government is taking a range of actions to tackle anti-social drug misuse, including cannabis. We are providing more visible, community-focused policing through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, supported by the Neighbourhood Policing Increase Grant, which will deliver 13,000 additional policing personnel into neighbourhood roles, and introducing Respect Orders to strengthen the powers available to police and other agencies. Every police force also now has a published anti-social behaviour plan and a dedicated lead.
The police, local authorities and other relevant agencies have a range of flexible powers to respond to anti-social behaviour, including drug misuse. These include the powers provided by the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, such as the Closure Power, which can be used to shut down premises associated with nuisance or disorder. In addition, under section 17(1)(b) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, police officers may enter a property without a warrant to arrest a person for an indictable offence where there are reasonable grounds to believe the person is on the premises.
The use of such powers is an operational matter for the police and must be exercised in a lawful, necessary and proportionate manner in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act Codes of Practice.
Tackling illegal drugs is key to delivering this Government’s missions by making our streets safer, improving our nation’s health, breaking down barriers to opportunities for all and supporting economic growth.
In the last year orphines, a class of lethal synthetic opioids, have emerged in the UK. The National Crime Agency...
Tackling illegal drugs is key to delivering this Government’s missions by making our streets safer, improving our nation’s health, breaking down barriers to opportunities for all and supporting economic growth.
In the last year orphines, a class of lethal synthetic opioids, have emerged in the UK. The National Crime Agency...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support local police forces to tackle (a) antisocial drug taking and (b) drug dealing.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support local police forces to tackle (a) antisocial drug taking and (b) drug dealing.
The Government does not tolerate illicit drugs and recognises the harms they cause including drug-related crime. We are taking a whole-system approach to deliver safer streets and address drug-related crime in our communities.
We work closely with police forces and other operational partners to deliver a robust law enforcement response. Powers under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 enable police forces and local authorities to combat antisocial behaviour linked to drug use and dealing and to protect communities.
Tackling organised drug-dealing remains a priority. County Lines are the most violent and exploitative model of drug supply and a harmful form of child criminal exploitation. Through the County Lines Programme, we are targeting exploitative drug dealing gangs and disrupting the organised crime groups behind them. Since July 2024, activity through the Programme has resulted in more than 3,700 deal lines closed, over 10,100 arrests (including more than 2,100 deal line holders charged), 5,400 safeguarding referrals of children and vulnerable people, and 1,200 knives seized. The Home Office is providing more than £34 million in funding for the County Lines Programme in 2026–27 to sustain its progress.
Drug use drives wider offending, with nearly half of acquisitive crime linked to drugs. Drug Testing on Arrest is a key tool to identify illicit drug users and support behaviour change and reduce future offending. Through the Crime and Policing Act 2026, we are expanding testing powers to cover further offences and a wider range of drugs.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) local authorities and (b) police forces in tackling the misuse of nitrous oxide in public places and the associated littering of discarded canisters.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) local authorities and (b) police forces in tackling the misuse of nitrous oxide in public places and the associated littering of discarded canisters.
The Government is aware of concerns about nitrous oxide misuse in public places and littering of discarded canisters, which places a burden on communities and local authorities.
Nitrous oxide has been controlled as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 since 2023. Under the 1971 Act, nitrous oxide carries penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment for illicit possession and up to 14 years for illicit supply. Exemptions for legitimate use are applicable where there is no intention of wrongful inhalation. The police and other law enforcement agencies are operationally independent, but we expect them to prioritise resources towards tackling crime, including drug related crime.
Local authorities are responsible for clearing litter from public and have powers to prosecute littering offenders or issue fixed penalty notices. Littering is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £2,500 on conviction, or a fixed penalty of up to £500.
Additionally, the Government is increasing funding for waste crime enforcement and continues to work with police, councils and partners to discourage misuse, support enforcement and reduce associated environmental harm.
Statement on the Government's plan to halve knife crime in a decade.
Statement on the Government's plan to halve knife crime in a decade.
Before I come to the statement, I want to echo the Home Secretary’s words yesterday following the publication of the Southport attack inquiry report. That was a truly sickening crime, and my thoughts, and those of everybody in this place, are with the families, victims and everyone who was affected.
With...
Before I come to the statement, I want to echo the Home Secretary’s words yesterday following the publication of the Southport attack inquiry report. That was a truly sickening crime, and my thoughts, and those of everybody in this place, are with the families, victims and everyone who was affected.
With...
I thank the shadow Minister for welcoming the target of halving knife crime, the content of the plan and the knife crime concentrations fund in particular. Where we can, we should try to work cross-party on tackling such heinous crimes.
The shadow Minister mentioned sentencing. It will always be the case...
I thank the shadow Minister for welcoming the target of halving knife crime, the content of the plan and the knife crime concentrations fund in particular. Where we can, we should try to work cross-party on tackling such heinous crimes.
The shadow Minister mentioned sentencing. It will always be the case...
I thank my hon. Friend for his question; of course, all our thoughts are with the family of his constituent who has lost his life. These things are always tragic, and I know that he will be involved in trying to help the community heal from such a difficult situation....
I thank my hon. Friend for his question; of course, all our thoughts are with the family of his constituent who has lost his life. These things are always tragic, and I know that he will be involved in trying to help the community heal from such a difficult situation....
I appreciate the Liberal Democrats welcoming the plan. I join the hon. Gentleman in praising the Ben Kinsella Trust and Patrick Green. Patrick has been brilliant throughout the development of the strategy, as have the members of the coalition that brought together a group of people, many of whom have...
I appreciate the Liberal Democrats welcoming the plan. I join the hon. Gentleman in praising the Ben Kinsella Trust and Patrick Green. Patrick has been brilliant throughout the development of the strategy, as have the members of the coalition that brought together a group of people, many of whom have...
I applaud the work that my hon. Friend has been doing with others, including Leanne Lucas, who was sadly at the horrendous event in Southport, and who has been campaigning on the issue since then. I have had the honour of meeting her several times to talk about this. My...
I applaud the work that my hon. Friend has been doing with others, including Leanne Lucas, who was sadly at the horrendous event in Southport, and who has been campaigning on the issue since then. I have had the honour of meeting her several times to talk about this. My...
Yes, the right hon. Gentleman is right that a very high proportion of people who commit knife offences are detected and charged. How we influence people who may want to pick up a knife is an interesting and difficult question. We are investing a small amount of money in trialling...
Yes, the right hon. Gentleman is right that a very high proportion of people who commit knife offences are detected and charged. How we influence people who may want to pick up a knife is an interesting and difficult question. We are investing a small amount of money in trialling...
All our condolences go to Jamie’s family at this incredibly difficult time. I know that the community in Filton will be reeling, and that my hon. Friend will play her role in bringing people together to come to terms with what has happened. It is catastrophic when someone loses their...
All our condolences go to Jamie’s family at this incredibly difficult time. I know that the community in Filton will be reeling, and that my hon. Friend will play her role in bringing people together to come to terms with what has happened. It is catastrophic when someone loses their...
We are already putting in place a range of interventions through the Crime and Policing Bill—which is going through Parliament and which we are debating this afternoon—to strengthen age verification for knives, and to ensure that online companies have a duty to remove violent content and knife sale content, and...
We are already putting in place a range of interventions through the Crime and Policing Bill—which is going through Parliament and which we are debating this afternoon—to strengthen age verification for knives, and to ensure that online companies have a duty to remove violent content and knife sale content, and...
I thank the hon. Gentleman for welcoming the strategy and for the work he has done. He is absolutely right: people commit knife crime offences with all different kinds of knives. Some of the knives that have been banned have a particularly pernicious impact, given the damage they do to...
I thank the hon. Gentleman for welcoming the strategy and for the work he has done. He is absolutely right: people commit knife crime offences with all different kinds of knives. Some of the knives that have been banned have a particularly pernicious impact, given the damage they do to...