THE Home Secretary will be invited to come to Glasgow to hear why the city needs a safe drug injecting space.

The so called “fix room” or safer drug consumption facility was blocked because the Lord Advocate refused to give immunity from prosecution for people taking drugs to the centre.

There are estimated to be around 400 to 500 drug addicts taking drugs publicly in and around the city centre causing public health worries about infection from needles.

The city council and the health board want to set up the facility to reduce the risk of overdose and cut the number of drug related infections like Hepatitis and HIV.

It requires action from the UK Government like a change in the Misuse of Drugs Act to allow the facility to be set up and allow drug users to bring their own illegal drugs to the centre.

Councillor Mhairi Hunter, vice chair if the Integrated Joint Board which oversees the city’s Health and Social Care Partnership has called on the council to invite Home Secretary Amber Rudd to the city to see the need for a safe injecting room herself.

A motion at the Council will re state its believe that the injecting rooms will reduce harm and benefit communities where drug taking is taking place in public and needles and other drug taking equipment discarded in closes and back courts.

In the motion, Ms Hunter says: “This is just one of a range of treatment options but one that must be available due to the clear public health need in Glasgow.

“A safer drug consumption facility also provides an enhanced opportunity to engage with a specific population who may not ordinarily engage with existing services.

“This proposal has been clinically led and similar projects have successfully reduced harm, for example by preventing increases in HIV infection rates.”

It calls on the council to write to the Scottish Government asking minister to back the plan and make efforts to make it happen and also to write to Ms Rudd and ask her to come to Glasgow and meet with people who support the plans and from people in communities who are affected by “chaotic” drug use in and around the city centre.

The safe drug facility would allow addicts to take drugs in a safe controlled space with medical support available. There would also be support from professionals to help people quit their habit.