Councillor Thomas Janke heralds “dramatically reduced” laughing gas usage in Newport

Newport Councillor Thomas Janke has welcomed the news from Newport SNT police team that there has been a "significant drop" in laughing gas canister usage.

"6 months on from my initial campaign, working in partnership with West Mercia Police, we have seen a real reduction in nitrous-oxide usage in our parks and public areas." Said Councillor Thomas Janke.

"It's fantastic to see the hard work paying off. The campaign was taken onboard by the community despite following an initial dumping of hundreds of canisters on Norbroom Park in the early hours, only days after the campaign took off. However, through the determination of the community and Newport's SNT, we are delighted to see this problem all but disappear from our public areas"

Newport SNT Sergeant Dan Taylor said "Thanks largely to the joint efforts of the police, town councillors and the local community the use of nitrous oxide in the Newport area has dramatically reduced. This reduction has been achieved through education and regular patrols in target areas and is a great example of how working in partnership can achieve fantastic results for everyone living in Newport.

In partnership with the West Mercia Police's Harm Reduction Unit, Councillor Janke attended school visits, went on patrol with the SNT team and used his regular newsletter 'Focus' to highlight the dangers to residents.

If residents have information about the usage, supply or import of nitrous oxide for human consumption, illegal under the 2016 Psychoactive Substances Act, they are advised to call 101.