Almost 500 people have been arrested in the six months since new psychoactive substances or ‘legal highs’ were banned.
The police have also stopped 332 shops across the UK from selling the substances, and have closed 31 shops which sell drug paraphernalia.
The Psychoactive Substances Act came into force in May 2016 and banned substances known as legal highs designed to produce similar effects to cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy that were responsible for 204 deaths in 2015.
‘Devastate lives’
Home Office minister Sarah Newton said: “We banned new psychoactive substances because they are not safe, they can devastate lives and we will not tolerate them in this country.
“I am pleased to see the police are making full use of the new powers, arresting dealers and ensuring they are punished with prison sentences which reflect the seriousness of this crime.”
Commander Simon Bray, the National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Psychoactive Substances, expressed his confidence that the police would continue to disrupt the supply and accessibility of the drugs.
‘Harmful’
He said: “Across the country, officers are using the full range of powers to enforce the law and the figures released today highlight their commitment to reducing the availability of these harmful substances.”
Of the 492 people arrested, only four have been jailed to date. However, the Government said other cases were “still being progressed through the criminal justice system”.
Possession with intent to supply psychoactive substances carries up to a seven year prison sentence.