Naphyrone which is often called NRG1 and its related compounds will become Class B drugs from Friday July 23, 2010. The drug, which has no known legitimate use, will be banned under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The legislation includes a generic definition to prevent unscrupulous drug manufacturers tweaking the chemical structure in an attempt to get around the law. Home Office ministers statement. Minister for Crime Prevention James Brokenshire said: The government is deeply concerned about the use of legal highs which is why we took swift action to ban this new drug. There is also clear evidence that just because a substance advertised as a legal high does not mean this is the case. Anyone buying a legal high is putting their health at risk and could be committing a criminal offence. Penalties and rules on importing naphyrone. Class B drugs carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison for possession and 14 years in prison for supply, alongside an unlimited fine. The import of naphyrone and its related compounds have already been banned and UKBA have detained 3.5 kg of the suspected substances since the ban came into force on 7 July. The control of these substances follows advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) on 7 July 2010. The ACMD continue to look at the use of so called legal highs as a priority. Notes to editors. Naphyrone will become a Class B drug from 0001 on Friday 23 July 2010 To view ACMD report visit: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/drugs/acmd1/naphyrone-report. Following receipt of ACMD advice on naphyrone on 7 July it was subjected to an immediate importation ban. This allowed the UK Border Agency to seize and destroy naphyrone and certain related compounds under the Open General Import Licence where it is imported without a licence. The legislation will include generic compounds to prevent suppliers easily switching to new versions of the substance. View the legislation at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/dsi14-07. The substances will be banned under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as Class B drugs. The Frank website and 24 hour helpline provides information and advice on a range of drugs and legal highs, including naphyrone, it can be found at: www.talktofrank.com For more information contact the Home Office press office on 020 7035 3535.

Published Date: 19 May 2010 By BRIAN FERGUSON SERIOUS crime in Edinburghs nightclubs and late-night bars has been slashed in the three years since nightspots joined in a self-policing initiative. The number of assaults in and around nightclubs and late night bars in Edinburgh has been vastly reduced due to the self-policing initiative. Picture: TSPL Dozens of members of the Unight scheme agreed to operate a joint banning policy targeting regular troublemakers in a move believed to be the first of its kind in the UK. New figures have revealed a plunge in offences involving drugs, weapons, assault and theft in the nightspots that signed up to the venture. Possession of drugs has gone down 82.9 per cent, while supply of drugs has slumped by 94.6. The total number of crimes reported in the 45 premises run by Unight members dropped from 1,546 in 2007 to 944 last year a reduction of 38.5 per cent. Better training for door staff, pro-active campaigns against drugs and violence and growing intelligence sharing between nightspots have all been credited with the scheme's success. Figures released earlier this year revealed that police are called out to deal with more than 150 crimes every week in all of Edinburghs pubs and clubs. Some 8,025 individual incidents were reported to the force last year, compared with 4,500 call-outs in 2007, with thefts and minor assaults making up the vast majority of incidents. However, these figures include every pub within the city boundary, and it is thought some of the more problematic licensed premises lie outwith the city centre. Under the schemes data-sharing system, CCTV images of drug-takers or violent customers are sent to other clubs. Offenders are then given a banning letter prohibiting them from entering any of the venues involved in the scheme, with the minimum order lasting three months. Among those banned from Edinburgh nightspots under the scheme was Hibernian star Derek Riordan, who was caught three times trying to sneak into venues while serving a two-year ban. The schemes members also introduced bans on irresponsible drinks promotions and so-called legal high drugs before laws were passed. Superintendent Donnie MacKinnon, from Lothian and Borders Police, said: With any relatively new scheme like this you are always likely to see some element of displacement, but the crucial thing about Unight is virtually every club in the city has signed up to it. The figures for the Unight members speak for themselves, and as far as were concerned it has had a hugely positive effect. Aberdeen has since launched its own scheme, and we understand other parts of the country are also looking to follow suit. Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill said: The member clubs of Unight have led by example in tackling binge drinking in Edinburgh by banning promotions that clearly do nothing but encourage people to get out of their heads. Getting rid of these irresponsible promotions is an approach that is clearly working. It is just one of many good things being done by Unight and a great example of the licensed trade working closely with police to make Edinburghs night-time economy safer and more enjoyable for everyone

Mephedrone is legal and widely available..... Home Secretary Alan Johnson is to ban the legal high Mephedrone and other synthetic drugs within weeks. It comes after the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs recommended they be classified as a Class B drugs. Class B drugs, which include cannabis and amphetamines, carry a maximum sentence of five years for possession or 14 years for supply. There has been recent pressure to ban Mephedrone, linked in media reports to at least four UK deaths. There had been speculation the 11th-hour resignation of Dr Polly Taylor from the ACMD could delay a ban because of rules about its membership. The law says any move to ban a drug must follow consultation with the Advisory Council. After the resignation of Dr Taylor, Lib Dem science spokesman Dr Evan Harris said Home Secretary Alan Johnsons ban would have to wait until the council was properly constituted. But a spokesman from the Home Office maintained the ACMD was still able to fulfil its legal role.

Teenagers give deadly M-Cat to girls, 12 Mums anger after daughter given lethal drug By Alison Rennie Published: 20/03/2010 DANGER: The drug M-Cat has been linked to two deaths. More Pictures A mum today told of her terror after her 12-year-old daughter was given deadly Mephedrone, known as M-Cat, by a gang of teenagers. She told how the youngster had been too shocked to talk about the incident. The mum warned parents to be on the lookout for M-Cat, a legal drug which police have warned has become rife. The mum-of-one, who did not want to be named, said: She had been out with some friends and there were some older kids with them. She had to be home for 9pm and I never thought anything was wrong when she came in the door she seemed fine. But after about an hour I got a call from my daughters friends mum and she told me they had taken Mephedrone and her daughter wasnt feeling very well. The mum said she went to check on her daughter, who also said she felt unwell. She said she later spoke to the other family and police were informed about the drugs incident. The mum told how her daughter was very lucky and said she hoped other parents were aware of how accessible M-Cat was to youngsters. She said: I just panicked, I hadnt heard of the drug before. I didnt know what to do. I couldnt believe she could have got hold of it as she is only 12. Luckily they were all okay. I dread to think what could have happened to my daughter. However, others may not be as lucky. I only hope more can be done to protect children from the drug.