In a transformative step towards addressing drug use through a health-centric lens, Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC has delineated a potential shift in prosecution policy concerning a proposed pilot safer drug consumption facility in Glasgow. This initiative marks a crucial departure in Scotland’s approach to drug addiction, carving out space for support services to effectively engage with society’s most vulnerable individuals.
Expressing her stance on the matter, the Lord Advocate stated, “On the basis of the information I have been provided, I would be prepared to publish a prosecution policy that it would not be in the public interest to prosecute drug users for simple possession offences committed within a pilot safer drugs consumption facility.”
However, she clarified this new policy, “does not amount to an exclusion zone whereby a range of criminality is tolerated.”
In a detailed letter to the conveners of Scotland’s Parliament cross-committee focused on tackling drug deaths and harm, the Lord Advocate accentuated that this policy alteration would exclusively apply to non-prosecution of individuals for simple possession offences within the precincts of the pilot facility.
The overarching objective is to cultivate a secure and nurturing environment where individuals are not merely penalised but are offered avenues for rehabilitation and recovery through concerted support and health services.
Furthermore, Bain asserted that the envisioned adjustment is not synonymous with the legalisation or decriminalisation of drugs.
Instead, it serves as a public directive to prosecutors in discerning public interest considerations within a nuanced context.
This progressive move echoes the sentiments of the existing policy that prioritises diversion from prosecution, fostering referrals to local authority services that address the root causes leading to the offence.
Moreover, the Lord Advocate reaffirmed that the initiative does not intend to create an area where other criminal activities would be overlooked. She highlighted, “Police Scotland have operational independence and it has been of the utmost importance to me to ensure that Police Scotland retain the ability to effectively police the facility and ensure that the wider community, those operating the site and those using the facility can be kept safe.”
Although specifics about the facility’s operation are yet to be unveiled, it is seen as a tactical response to public injecting in areas grappling with this pervasive issue.
In addition to offering immediate safety nets, the facility aims to be a conduit for individuals whom health and support services find elusive, guiding them to a series of supportive measures, potentially aiding in their recovery journey.
As Scotland navigates the profound issue of drug deaths and harm, this development heralds a potentially more empathetic and effective drug policy, transitioning from prosecution to prevention and support.
It represents a sincere endeavour to connect with those at the peripheries, presenting them with opportunities for recovery and reintegration into society.
The comprehensive letter from the Lord Advocate reflects the Scottish government’s dedication to adapting and innovating its strategies to combat drug-related adversities, fostering a society that encourages recovery and rehabilitation.
