POTENTIAL sites for a new safe drug injecting centre in Glasgow have been identified.

Glasgow City Integration Joint Board said sites in the south east of the city centre are being explored for two co-located services.

The plan would see a facility made available for addicts to consume their own drugs and in some cases users will be provided with medical-grade heroin.

It is the first facility of its kind in the UK.

The number of new cases of HIV acquired through drug injection has risen to 90 in the past two years, with 12 infections already recorded this year.

In addition, drug deaths in Glasgow remain high with 157 occurring in the city in 2015. Heroin and/or morphine was the cause or contributing factor in 73 of these deaths.

Susanne Millar, Glasgow City HSCP Chief Officer for Strategy, Planning and Commissioning, said: “The need for a safer consumption facility is about improving the health of those involved in public injecting.

“Our aim is to provide a route to recovery for a group of people often disengaged from support services and improving the general amenity of Glasgow city centre.

“Public injecting of drugs places considerable financial costs on the health, social care and criminal justice systems."

Last year, the draft business case identified the costs of drug injectors drugs could potentially create lifetime costs to the health service of £29.64 million.

An update report will be presented by Glasgow City Integration Joint Board (IJB) on Wednesday June 21.