UK Government no intention of allowing drug consumption room in Glasgow

The UK Government has confirmed it has no intention of allowing a drug consumption room in be opened in Glasgow, despite accepting it could have benefits.

The letter from the Home Office was issued in response to an invitation to Home Secretary Amber Rudd to visit the City Council to listen to the case for the injecting facility.

It says they are not prepared to sanction or condone activities which could fuel the drug trade.

Councillor Mhairi Hunter, the City Convener for Health and Social Care Integration, welcomed the letter as a sign that the Home Office is taking on board the evidence on DCRs.

Councillor Hunter said: “The letter from the Home Office shows they are listening to what is being said about a safer consumption room in Glasgow.

“Within the Home Office letter there is a far greater acknowledgement of the evidence in favour of safer consumption rooms than we have ever seen before. It shows that continuing to highlight the benefits of DCRs is having an impact on thinking in the Home Office.

“The reports highlighted by Home Office link DCRS to reductions in drug deaths, risky injecting and public nuisance as well as better engagement with vulnerable drug users who are otherwise remote from support services.

“This is exactly what we have been saying in Glasgow for the past two years. It was remarkable to see the Home Office essentially accept the arguments we have been making about the potential benefits of a safer consumption room.

“We do understand the sticking points for the Home Office and work has already been undertaken to address those concerns. But I see a clear basis for on-going dialogue with the Home Office about the proposal for safer drug consumption facility in Glasgow.

“The public health case for a SDCF is as compelling as ever. All the evidence shows that a SCDF in Glasgow will prevent drug deaths, stem the spread of HIV infection, reduce drug-related litter and save services millions of pounds each year. We will continue to make the case that harmful drug use must be treated as a public health issue as a matter of urgency.