Heroin ‘shooting gallery’ in Glasgow to seek immunity from prosecution

The UK’s first heroin “shooting gallery”, in Glasgow, is to seek immunity from prosecution ahead of its opening, The Herald reports.

Addicts at the facility, to be based between Trongate and the Saltmarket, will risk prosecution for drug dealing unless there are legal safeguards in place.

Health chiefs are to appeal to Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC (pictured) to relax the strict sentencing policy for such offences.

A report by Susanne Millar, of Glasgow City Council’s social work department, states that the scheme is dependent on a legal exemption being granted, allowing users to inject drugs under medical supervision.

She said that the scheme, which will cost £2.3 million a year to run, “cannot be established unless there is either a change in the law or a change in current prosecution policy”.

In addition, Police Scotland will have to recognise a “tolerance zone” in and around the facility if the scheme is to work.

A Crown Office spokesman said: “Misuse of drugs legislation remains a reserved issue and any such scheme has a number of different policy considerations that the Scottish Government will want to consider in detail.

“The Lord Advocate has yet to receive a detailed proposal in relation to any such scheme.”