Glasgow needle exchange shuts down following fears for public safety

A needle exchange for addicts to prevent the spread of HIV has been closed in Glasgow Central Station.

It was run by Boots but Network Rail, which owns the building, says it was forced to take action after drug-taking equipment was found in public areas.

It is the busiest service of its kind and and has provided more than 40,000 sets of clean injecting equipment since it opened last year.

The Scottish Drugs Forum says there has only been 10 minor incidents and one major incident over the past year.

It is believed the station came to the decision after one user over-dosed in the public toilets and another set fire to the disabled facilities.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “Glasgow Central station is used by over 100,000 visitors each day and we have a responsibility to provide as safe an environment as possible for those passengers and our staff.

"Following a number of incidents we have reviewed the provision of a needle exchange within Central and decided to end the station’s participation in the scheme. There are around 50 alternative needle exchanges which continue to operate in Glasgow.”

A spokesman for Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership said: At a time when Glasgow is experiencing an HIV outbreak amongst injecting drug users it is especially important that they have access to clean injecting equipment.

"It is disappointing that after protracted discussions to set up the injecting equipment provision (IEP) service in Central Station that Network Rail is forcing the closure of the service despite it being supported by the NHS, Glasgow City Council, Police Scotland and the pharmacy.

"The service has been run in an exemplary fashion and is ideally placed to provide the service out of hours. Network Rail’s position of enforced closure goes against local, national and international evidence on the individual and community public health benefits.

"Since the service opened it has provided 41,238 sets of clean injecting equipment, and 20,520 sheets of foil used to promote transition from injecting to less risky inhalation, to almost 2,000 individuals."