HAMPSHIRE'S police and crime commissioner will encourage council bosses in the county to follow an authority's lead in banning legal highs from city centres.

This week City of Lincoln Council agreed to ban the consumption of legal highs in its city centre after an increase in incidents of anti-social behaviour as a result of more people abusing the substances.

The authority will use a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) – a power introduced by the Government last year– to tackle the problem.

Simon Hayes, police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said he would support the introduction of any legislation that will protect young people from the dangers of legal highs.

Mr Hayes has backed the Say No to Legal Highs campaign, launched by The Gazette’s sister paper, the Southern Daily Echo, following the deaths of young people in Hampshire as a result of taking the substances.

It calls for tougher laws, for vendors and sellers to be held to account, and tighter controls to stop vulnerable youngsters from being able to buy the products over the counter.

On the back of Lincoln council's action, Mr Hayes said: “I think every little helps. I would like to see anything that would protect young people from these poisons.

“I don't think it's the answer to the problem because these substances can be purchased online but it would go some way to sending a message out to young people that these substances are lethal.”

He added that he would write to leaders of local councils to encourage them to consider a similar move.