Lambeth Council has extended the borough-wide ban on possessing or consuming psychoactive substances, including nitrous oxide, as police grapple with the issue.

The ban, which has been in place since 2015, has been extended to August 2021 and expands on laws which make it illegal to sell, import or export psychoactive substances.

Anyone found consuming or in possession of the harmful substances is liable for a £100 fine.

This comes as the illicit street market for psychoactive substances remains active in the borough.

According to Lambeth Council documents: “Lambeth has a persistent and continuing issue with the possession and consumption of new psychoactive substances.

“The Metropolitan Police data indicates that this issue has continued to occur on a weekly basis since the implementation of the original order in 2015,” the documents explain.

In a statement, Sergeant Paul Robinson said the fines had worked well,  and lessened the number of empty nitrous oxide cannisters around Vauxhall.

“I received dozens of complaints from members of the public who live close and regularly use Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens regarding these metal canisters on the floor,” he wrote.

“They find it extremely intimidating and the area becomes a no-go zone first thing in the morning on the weekends. They also then have to wait for Lambeth street cleaners to come and clean the numerous benches in the park before they feel safe to use them.

“Following the introduction of the Public Space Protection Order my team have issued dozens of Penalty Notice Disorder fines for £100 for possession of the gas canisters.

“There has been a drastic drop in the amount of metal canisters in the public spaces of Vauxhall. This has been clear as members of the public I came across all stated that Vauxhall had been much more peaceful with less anti-social behaviour on the weekend.”

People who use the harmful substances tend to be unaware of their detrimental health impacts, the documents explained.

“Recent studies have also found that there is a lack of awareness of the negative health implications of new psychoactive substances, especially nitrous oxide, amongst young people,” the documents read.