ADDICTS 'SHOULD BE GIVEN CUBICLES TO INJECT HEROIN' - THE DAILY MAIL

Drug addicts should be able to inject heroin in publicly-provided
'consumption rooms', an influential working group recommended yesterday.

The group, which included several high-ranking police officers, called
for supervised centres in which users would be provided with clean
syringes, needles and a private cubicle.

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The move aims to prevent health problems, cut the number of junkies
injecting themselves on the street and 'give them back their
self-esteem'.

The proposals - which essentially amount to state-condoned drug abuse
- - come from an independent working group headed by highly influential
drug reformer Dame Ruth Runciman.

She led a call for the softening of laws on cannabis six years ago,
which was followed within 15 months by the Government's decision to
downgrade cannabis from class B to class C.

Her committee included Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Andy
Hayman, head of anti-terrorist policing in London and chairman of the
Association of Chief Police Officers' drugs committee.

Met Detective Superintendent Kevin Green, a fellow member of Acpo's
drugs committee, was also on the board that produced yesterday's proposals.

The "shooting galleries" would not be ruled out by the Conservatives,
David Cameron said today.

The Tory leader said the current system of diverting drug users into
treatment was not working "as well as it could".

He said: "I certainly wouldn't rule them out because anything that
helps get users off the streets and in touch with agencies that can
provide treatment is worth looking at.

"We should look at it as part of our policy review and ask 'Will it
help get users off the streets and into treatment while cutting crime
at the same time?"'

The report, sponsored by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: "Drug
consumption rooms are a rational and overdue extension to the harm
reduction policy that has produced substantial individual and public
benefits in the UK over the last two decades."

The report added: "The independent working group has emphasised the
great loss of dignity and the mental anguish associated with injecting
drugs in run-down back streets, alleyways, toilets and parks.

"Without some level of self-esteem, it is hard to see how such users
can make a realistic attempt to address their multiple problems,
including their dependence on drugs."

It reported that where consumption rooms have been tried 'in some
cases there have been usually temporary increases in public nuisance
and dealing'.

Mary Brett of Europe Against Drugs said: "This is condoning illegal
supply.

"It encourages drug dealing - the whole thing stinks.

"It is all part of the awful business of helping users keeping their
habits going rather than helping them get off."

A Home Office spokesman said the report would be 'considered'.

* Three-quarters of neighbourhoods are blighted by drug dealing, a
survey has revealed.

The ICM survey for the BBC found that more than half of householders
want police to do more to tackle drugs.

Some 16 per cent of 1,190 questioned said they had taken drugs
themselves. This figure rose to almost a third in the 25 to
34-year-old age group.