POLICE ACCUSED OF SPYING ON ADDICTS AT NEEDLE CENTRE

Health Workers Fear Service Being Shunned in Case of
Surveillance

Police have been accused of spying on drug addicts when they try to
use a needle exchange centre set up to stop the spread of hepatitis C
and HIV.

Health workers fear people are shunning the centre in Inverness
because they are worried about officers keeping them under
surveillance.

And there are concerns that addicts will simply drop dirty needles in
public places - rather then have them disposed of safely.

According to a city councillor and former police officer, some drug
injectors are staying away from the Waterloo Place centre because of
the police presence.

Northern Constabulary has dismissed the claim, but NHS Highland said
yesterday the issue was of regular concern.

SNP councillor John Finnie praised the efforts of the police and
health agencies to tackle intravenous drug use, but urged officers not
to deter addicts from seeking help at the needle exchange service.

He said: "While no one is suggesting 'no go' areas for the police, it
is vitally important the police do nothing which might restrict access
to this vital service.

"Clear guidelines exist regarding surveillance operations and they
include the need to consider wider community risks."

NHS Highland substance misuse co-ordinator Dougie Montgomery said
there had been "regular concerns regarding the police presence in
Waterloo Place" and that the matter was "being discussed with senior
officers".

Northern Constabulary's Inverness area commander Chief Inspector
Andrew MacLean denied that there had ever been surveillance of the
premises.

He said: "We monitor the stop and search of individuals suspected to
be in possession of illegal drugs and there is no evidence to suggest
these searches have been carried out on people going to and from the
exchange programme.

"If an officer has reason to suspect any individual is in possession
of illegal drugs, he or she is fully entitled to search them under the
terms of the Misuse of Drugs Act."

Inverness Crime Prevention Panel chairman Jim Ferguson said police had
a duty to operate "in every area that they see fit when it comes to
dealing with criminal activity".

Suzy Calder, chief officer of the Highland Alcohol and Drug
Partnership said: "If these issues were raised then this is certainly
something that would be discussed by the partnership.

"We have to appreciate the police's position in terms of other ongoing
enforcement activity that may be going on that happens to coincide
around that area but the partnership wouldn't shy away from having
that discussion to establish the facts."

The Waterloo Place centre offers a new-for-old syringe exchange,
testing and immunisation for hepatitis and other blood-borne viruses,
treatment of injection-induced wounds and safety advice.

There are similar facilities in Nairn and Rossshire and pharmacies
provide needle exchanges in Inverness, Nairn, Fort William, Tain,
Alness, Wick, Kyle and Portree.