No arrests have been made in Cumbria for the possession of so-called legal highs - three months after they were declared illegal by new laws.

The first national figures since the Psychoactive Substances Act was introduced on May 26, reveal that officers across the UK have arrested 186 people for the production, distribution, sale or supply of the drugs.

But Cumbria Police has confirmed that to-date no arrests have been made across the county, nor have any premises been forced to close for selling the drugs.

The law was introduced after the substances were linked to a number of deaths.

Earlier this month, Simon Chapman, Luke Fraser and Michael Mountfort were all jailed for the supply of psychoactive substances at the Kendal Calling music festival last year.

Eighteen-year-old Christian Pay died after taking a so-called “legal high”.

Detective Superintendent Andy Slattery said: “As a force we do not differentiate between existing controlled drugs and new psychoactive substances. Our approach is to reduce the harm caused by drugs in society rather than to criminalise users.

“We take steps to reduce the supply of all types of drugs into our communities. This is done to help protect people from the physical harm caused and from the problems associated with organised criminal gangs who supply drugs.

“People need to recognise that psychoactive substances are very unsafe and just like controlled substances, they can get cut up with other substances which creates a situation where you cannot be 100 per cent sure what you are putting in your body.”

Safeguarding minister Sarah Newton added: “These dangerous drugs have already cost far too many lives.

“ I'm encouraged to see that – three months in – police are using their new powers to take dealers off our streets and that so many retailers have been denied the chance to profit from this reckless trade. These drugs are not legal, they are not safe and we will not allow them to be sold in this country.”