Psychoactive Substances Act 2016

The Act that introduced a blanket ban on the production, supply, and import of psychoactive substances (so-called "legal highs"), subject to a small number of exemptions for substances with an established legal use such as alcohol, tobacco, medicinal products, and caffeine. It created new offences and gave police powers to seize and destroy prohibited substances and to issue prohibition notices and closure orders.

Key Provisions

• Section 2: definition of psychoactive substance (affects mental functioning)
• Section 4: offence of producing a psychoactive substance
• Section 5: offence of supplying or offering to supply
• Section 8: offence of possession with intent to supply
• Section 9: possession in a custodial institution
• Section 11: prohibition notices
• Section 12: premises notices
• Sections 36 to 41: powers of entry, search, and seizure

Relevance to Policing

Relevant to enforcement action relating to psychoactive substances (formerly "legal highs"), enforcement in custody environments, and the civil notice and closure regime.