Plans for the UK’s first drugs consumption room in Glasgow are moving “at pace”, with the scheme set to go back in front of the Lord Advocate for final approval.

NHS and council officials agreed to develop a pilot facility in September last year, after Scotland’s chief legal officer, Dorothy Bain KC, announced people using the service would not be prosecuted.

Staff have been working on a redesign of the Hunter Street health and care centre, in the east end, to accommodate the consumption room, which is expected to open this year.

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The plans have now been developed to the point where members of the city’s Integration Joint Board  — which includes council and NHS representatives — have been asked to approve approaching the Lord Advocate for a formal statement on prosecution policy.

When the Lord Advocate made her announcement last year, she said she would be “prepared to publish a prosecution policy that it would not be in the public interest to prosecute drugs users for simple possession offences committed within a pilot safer drugs consumption facility”.

A report to the IJB states the Lord Advocate indicated “an expectation that as a pilot, the facility would be subject to robust evaluation” and public engagement. She noted the “exact terms of the statement of prosecution policy would be confirmed when such a facility becomes operational”.

Following Queen’s Counsel opinion on how the facility could operate safely, policies and procedures have been updated to make “minor additions”. 

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An inhalation room, for smoking illegal substances, has been removed from the plans, which have been sent “for final King’s Counsel opinion”. It has previously been reported this aspect was taken out because of legal issues around Scottish anti-smoking legislation and challenge with ventilation.

The report adds: “Should the opinion be favourable in terms of operating a safer drug consumption facility safely, mitigating risks to the organisation and staff with strict adherence to operational policies and procedures, next steps would involve submitting final documentation to the Lord Advocate.

“This would include a request for the provision of a statement of prosecution policy to meet the timescales associated with the opening of the service.”

The report to IJB members adds work to “finalise the detailed plans and programme of works for the build continues at pace”, with a full update on the property to be presented in March.

Almost £2.35m has been provided by the Scottish Government to cover operational costs from April 2024. Job descriptions are being finalised for all posts and a recruitment campaign is planned, which will “ensure candidates have a good understanding of the responsibilities associated with each role”.

Engagement has been carried out with community groups closest to the facility, councillors, community councils and social landlords, while businesses in the area have been contacted.

The report states: “Community feedback to date has ranged from people raising concerns about the negative impact on the community and misinformation about the service to residents welcoming the service in the hope that it addresses the drug related litter and public injecting in their area.”

It adds feedback has been “overwhelmingly positive” from those with “lived and living experience”, indicating “a strong belief that the service will be beneficial in offering a safer environment for people who inject drugs publicly” as well as an opportunity to engage with support services.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and “academic partner institutions” have submitted a bid for a research grant to help evaluate the pilot.