30/10/2013

Durham PCC Backs Drug 'Consumption Rooms'

The Police and Crime Commissioner has backed the introduction of "consumption rooms" for drug addicts.

Durham PCC Ron Hogg has said that he believes the facilities, commonly known as "shooting galleries" and which allow addicts to take prescribed heroin legally, would reduce crime and take drugs off the streets.

Pilot schemes of similar facilities have been carried out in Brighton, Darlington and London.

It is understood that the government is reviewing the drug strategies of other countries.

Mr Hogg says that following a successful trial in Darlington, he thinks that consumption rooms should be considered as a way to tackle heroin addiction.

Mr Hogg's comments follow an article published last month in the Observer by Durham Police's Chief Constable Mike Barton in which he called for the decriminalisation of class A drugs.

(MH/CD)

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