TORIES WON'T RULE OUT DRUG ROOMS

'Shooting galleries' where drug addicts inject themselves in
controlled surroundings would not be ruled out by the Conservatives,
David Cameron, the Tory leader, has said.

Mr Cameron visited a drop-in centre in North London

Mr Cameron said the current system of diverting drug users into
treatment was not working "as well as it could", and said drug
consumption rooms could be considered to help addicts.

"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," he said.

"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 Tory leader was speaking at a centre in north London which
provides care for those whose lives are affected by drug and alcohol
misuse.

"I have spent some time, though not enough, talking with addicts and
former addicts and listening to them tell me about their experiences,"
Mr Cameron said.

"If we can try and understand then we are some way to understanding
how we can get people off drugs so they can lead more purposeful lives
and cut crime for everybody else."

Lord Victor Adebowale, chief executive Turning Point, the charity
which runs the drop-in centre, welcomed the Tory leader's interest in
the work of the charity.

"We are a social care organisation not just for substance abuse
problems, but also for mental health and for those with learning
disabilities," he said.

"We think it is important that the politicians who lead this country
understand the needs of our clients, all 200,000 of them."

Mr Cameron's comments came as a Joseph Rowntree Foundation report said
that Britain should pilot a series of drug consumption rooms, similar
to ones which already operate in eight other countries.

The influential charity said that shooting galleries would be a
"unique and promising way" to help reduce the number of fatal drug
overdoses.