A MAN has been charged under a new law after police broke up a disturbance in Chafford Hundred yesterday (Sunday, 12 November).

It happened just days after the new law relating to the recreational use of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) came into being.

Officers responding to a disturbance in Grenville Road, Chafford Hundred, seized 60 cannisters of nitrous oxide from a vehicle.

Freddie Townley, 23, of Calshot Avenue, Chafford Hundred, was arrested and later charged with possessing a Class C drug with intent to supply, possessing a controlled drug of Class A and possessing a bladed article in public.

He will appear at Southend Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 30 November.

Superintendent Phillip Stinger, Head of Specialist Operations, said: "We have welcomed the introduction of this new law, as it will give us as officers more options when dealing with the anti-social behaviour so often associated with the use and supply of nitrous oxide as a recreational substance.

"This means a proportionate approach to tackling those found in possession of nitrous oxide cannisters, including explaining the change in law and encouraging people not to use or by the substance.

"But where we are dealing with a larger number of cannisters, it is right we take robust and swift action and put this new legislation to use.

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"The use of nitrous oxide in public spaces is a nuisance to communities and has been shown to pose a considerable health risk."