THE Home Office has admitted a "fix room" could ease drug problems in Scotland's biggest city – but will not allow authorities to set it up.

Officials said allowing the planned drug consumption room (DCR) in Glasgow to go ahead would risk problems for police outwith Scotland.

The claim is based on the situation in Danish capital Copenhagen. Officials said some users travel from Sweden to use the medically-supervised facilities.

In a letter to Glasgow City Council, the Home Office wrote: "It is therefore a concern that the creation of a DCR in one part of the UK may pose difficult law enforcement questions for police forces other than the one hosting the facility."

The letter, released by the local authority, also "acknowledges that there is some evidence for the effectiveness of drug consumption rooms in addressing the problems of public nuisance associated with open drug scenes, and in reducing health risks for drug users".

This includes a reduction of deadly overdoses and "injecting risk behaviours", as well as aiding contact with "high-risk" drug users.

However, it goes on to state that the UK Government "is not prepared to sanction or condone activities that support the organised trade that facilitates the availability of drugs and causes harm to individuals and communities".

Plans for the city site were drawn up two years ago, but have been blocked under UK drug laws, which are reserved to Westminster.

It had been hoped that the unit, developed by the city's Health and Social Care Partnership, would reduce the spread of HIV amongst Glasgow's estimated 13,600 problem drug users and stop used syringes and related paraphernalia from littering parks and alleyways.

The plan is also aimed at preventing drug-related deaths, following 160 fatalities in the city in 2016.

But the Home Office said prosecution comes first, stating: "It is important that the government continues to send a clear message that drugs controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and their supply, present such harms that possessing them under any circumstances must be subject to a commensurately strict regime."

Despite this, Glasgow City Council said the message reveals a "significant change in attitude".

Councillor Mhairi Hunter, city convener for health and social care integration, said: "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."

She went on: “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 [safer drug consumption facility] 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.”