DOUGLAS Ross has been knocked back by Boris Johnson and Priti Patel in his efforts to get their backing for a pilot drug consumption room in Scotland.
The Scottish Conservative leader met with UK policing minister Kit Malthouse at the end of last month to put the case for a trial scheme after visiting a recovery unit for people affected by drug misuse earlier that day.
Ross dropped his opposition to a pilot project a few days earlier after hearing from charity workers and people in recovery who told him “drastic” action is needed to bring down the number of drug deaths in Scotland.
He urged the Home Office not to stand in the way of it being set up in Scotland, in what was a major reversal of party policy that risked enraging rank-and-file Tory members.
Speaking to journalists after meeting with people in recovery at a community club in Glasgow, Ross backed potential test sites for drug consumption rooms in Scotland.
READ MORE: Drug use at Westminster to be raised with police 'as a priority', Speaker says
The National asked the Home Office whether it was supporting Ross’s bid to help establish a drug consumption room pilot in Scotland.
In response a spokeswoman underlined the department’s opposition to the policy and underlined that activities around such units would involve serious criminal offences.
The spokeswoman for Patel’s department said: “We have no plans to introduce drug consumption rooms in the UK. A range of crimes would be committed in the course of running such a facility, by both service users and staff, such as possession of a controlled drug, being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug, knowingly permitting the supply of a controlled drug on a premises or encouraging or assisting these and other offences.
“The Home Office published a 10-year drugs strategy yesterday which presents the whole-government response to drugs.
“It will drive down drug supply and demand, which includes supporting people through treatment and recovery and an even tougher response to criminal supply chains and the demand that fuels these illegal markets.”
Consumption rooms allow drugs to be used under the supervision of trained staff and have been operating in some other European countries for the past three decades.
Staff aim to reduce overdoses, stop the spread of diseases and connect users with addiction services.
The Scottish Government wants to run its own scheme but the UK Government has resisted calls for an exemption to current drug laws, controlled at Westminster.
A total of 1339 deaths in Scotland last year were attributed to drugs, up from 1264 the previous year.
Speaking to reporters ahead of his meeting with Malthouse, Ross said the current Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain has “brought forward a different interpretation” from her predecessor James Wolffe saying that a pilot would not necessarily need the approval of the UK Government.
READ MORE: Controversy around Green minister's claim drugs are not 'inherently dangerous'
However, he said it was still useful to continue to work with the UK Government on the issue.
Ross is planning to bring a Right to Recovery Bill into Holyrood which would give drug users a legal entitlement to receive addiction treatment.
The First Minister has not said whether the Scottish Government would support it and has previously told Holyrood she would want to examine its proposals before making a decision.
The joint visit to the community centre came about after Sturgeon and Ross repeatedly clashed in parliament over how to respond to the fact more people in Scotland die from drugs than anywhere else in Europe.
The Scottish Conservatives were approached for comment.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel