PEOPLE caught selling so-called legal highs could face a fine and up to seven years in prison from today as a new law banning their production, supply and importation came into force at midnight yesterday.

It comes almost three years after the family of Chris Scott, of Park South, started a campaign to get them banned following the father-of-three's death.

The 23-year-old's major organs shut down and his heart gave out just days after he took a green pill known as AMT.

Speaking at the time his sister Danielle said: “Just because they are legal doesn’t make them safe."

Wiltshire Police has welcomed the new legislation saying it is a positive step forward and they confirmed they will be doing stop-searches as part of the clamp down.

“We are ready to enforce the new law and tackle the harm caused in communities by the sale and use of drugs,” said Superintendent Phil Staynings, head of crime prevention.

The legal highs ban – the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 – was due to come into effect earlier this year but was delayed amid concerns it was unenforceable.

Instead of selecting specific substances to ban, it criminalises all psychoactive substances which are capable of affecting a person’s mental functioning or emotional state and are not currently controlled as a class A, B or C drug. Food, alcohol and nicotine are exempt from the ban.

It does not criminalise the possession of the substances but it will be an offence to possess them anywhere with intent to supply them to another, such as a friend. It is also an offence to import them by buying them from a foreign website.

Nitrous oxide, known as hippy crack and laughing gas, is among the substances to be banned. It came under the spotlight last month when Swindon Town Football Club suspended players Drissa Traore, Jeremy Balmy and Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill after they were allegedly filmed inhaling the gas.

Supt Staynings said: “As with all drugs, our approach will be practical, proportionate and based on the individual circumstances.

“We have a number of options available to enforce this legislation which include prohibition notices, premises notices, prohibition orders and premises orders all of which allow police and local authorities to require people to stop stocking, selling or supplying psychoactive substances.

"Officers have been given powers to stop and search people, vehicles (including vessels), enter and search premises in accordance with a warrant, and to seize and destroy psychoactive substances.”

Wiltshire Police is also urging the public to contact them if they believe shops or other establishments are supplying psychoactive substances from today. This can be done by calling Wiltshire Police on 101.

A police spokesman said yesterday Swindon had one shop selling legal highs. On the company's Facebook page it was advertising 'nitrous oxide systems' for £10.