The UK Government has been accused of “ignoring the evidence” on drugs policy by the chair of a committee of MPs.

In a report published today, the cross-party Scottish Affairs committee says the Home Office’s reasons for blocking safe drug consumption rooms in Scotland are “not convincing”.

The committee wants to see responsibility for drugs stripped from the Home Office and transferred to the UK department of health and social care.

This would see a criminal justice approach to illicit drugs abandoned and replaced with a public health model where personal drug use is decriminalised.

Andrew Horne, director of charity Addaction in Scotland, said: “Trying to arrest our way out of problematic drug use has been a categorical failure.”

“People who develop problems with drugs need compassion and support, not punishment. I just hope the powers in Westminster are listening.”

Chair Pete Wishart MP said: “Every drug death is preventable, and these centres could play a vital role in addressing Scotland’s drug crisis.

“The Home Office’s decision to block the introduction of a safe drug consumption facility in Glasgow, despite the record number of drug deaths in Scotland, is deeply regrettable, and we hope that they will reconsider.”

Today’s report echoes previous conclusions by MPs on the health and social care committee, who said the whole UK should adopt a public health approach to reducing drug deaths.

It highlights expert evidence stating case for such a safe consumption facility in Glasgow is “the most compelling in Europe”. 

If the UK Government will not legislate to introduce them, Scots MPs say, powers to do so should be devolved to Scotland.

Meanwhile, the committee says possession of drugs for personal should be decriminalised, to ‘help deal with the root causes of problem drug use, such as stigma, and encourage people to seek treatment.’

Drug-related deaths in Scotland reached an all-time high of 1,187 last year – and there are predictions this year’s figures could be worse.

Although many of the recommendations are aimed at the UK Government, the report says Scottish Government cuts to alcohol and drugs services “have made the situation worse”.

MPs concluded if the Scottish Government wants to call for more powers it should ‘demonstrate that it is doing everything within the powers it already has.’

Pete Wishart MP commented: “Throughout our inquiry we heard tragic accounts of the pain and suffering that problem drug use is causing in Scotland.

“If this number of people were being killed by any other illness, the government would declare it as a public health issue and act accordingly.

“The evidence is clear – the criminal justice approach does not work. Decriminalisation is a pragmatic solution to problem drug use; reducing stigma around drug use and addiction, and encouraging people to seek treatment.”