Cannabis pipes, grinders and other drug paraphernalia were handed over to police as part of a crackdown on drug and alcohol sales at shops.

Hertfordshire Police' Potters Bar and Shenley Safer Neighbourhood Team have been cracking down on convenience stores selling items that encourage alcohol and drug use among young people.

Several items were taken from a shop in Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, after police and trading standards officers attended last Wednesday (October 26).

During the visit, officers found glass pipes, cannabis grinders, baggies (dealer bags) and cannabis pipes under the counter, as well as ‘legal highs’ on the counter.

PC Ashleigh Begg said: “Whilst these items are not illegal to sell, we know that they are used by the customer, most often young people, to use or sell drugs.

“We asked the owners of the store to voluntarily surrender them to police for destruction and they agreed."

PC Begg said shops had been asked to sign up to a voluntary code of conduct regarding the sale of nitrous oxide.

He added: “Test purchase operations have also been conducted, and warnings and repeat visits have been carried out where they have been found selling alcohol and canisters to children."