BARROW and Furness MP John Woodcock has moved to add tougher measures to the government’s new legislation to tackle legal highs. 

Mr Woodcock has tabled an amendment to the new Psychoactive Substances Bill which would give the police extra powers to prevent premises they suspect of distributing illegal drugs from trading. 

The move follows years of campaigning from Mr Woodcock on the issue of legal highs following a number of high profile local incidents involving these drugs. Mr Woodcock had pressed the government to introduce legislation for a blanket ban on legal highs and had attempted to amend the law to this effect in the last parliament. 

Mr Woodcock also highlighted the Evening Mail's campaign to crack down on legal highs. 

He added: “So-called legal highs have been a blight on society for years and I welcome the fact that the government are bringing forward a new blanket ban on the substances. 

"I still have concerns about the ability of the police to enforce the new laws effectively and that is what my amendment aims to tackle.” 

The amendment will be debated tomorrow (Thursday) in the committee that is scrutinising the legislation where it will be championed by Labour shadow minister Lyn Brown.