This page is from APP, the official source of professional practice for policing.
The following documents provide advice and guidance on policing drugs.
Psychoactive Substances Act 2016
The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 (the Act), came into force 26 May 2016.
A psychoactive substance is any substance capable of producing a psychoactive effect in the person who consumes it, and it is not an exempted substance (s 2(1)(a) and (b) of the Act). ‘Psychoactive substance’ is an umbrella term for products that are intended to mimic the effects of controlled drugs.
For further information see Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 briefing note.
For further resources see also the Knowledge Hub Drugs community (this link is available to authorised users who are logged on to the Knowledge Hub).
Guidelines on khat possession
Khat became a controlled Class C drug on 24 June 2014. The Government decided to ban khat under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to address community concerns on the health and social harms of khat use in the UK and the risk of the UK becoming a single, regional khat smuggling hub for onward trafficking to countries where it is banned.
For further information see National Policing Guidelines on KHAT Possession for Personal Use Intervention Framework (England & Wales Only).