CAROLINE Lucas has called for Brighton and Hove to follow in the footsteps of Glasgow as Scotland’s second city becomes the first in the UK to allow drug users to inject under supervision.

Glasgow’s health board, city council and police have agreed in principle to allow the creation of a facility made available for addicts to consume their own drugs.

A similar proposal was explored in Brighton and Hove two years ago but a specially-created commission ruled the timing was not right despite the benefits for addicts.

The Brighton Pavilion MP said she hoped the city could learn from Glasgow’s approach to try a different tactic in solving the drugs problem but Sussex Police Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said “liberalisation” was a “risky experiment”.

Glasgow would become the first country in the UK to open such a facility for its estimated 500 street drug users and the green light has now been given for a business case to be drawn-up.

Similar schemes operate in 10 other countries, including Australia, Germany, France, Holland and Switzerland.

Ms Lucas said: “It is welcome that Glasgow is set to follow an evidence based approach aimed at reducing drug related harms.

“These supervised spaces help users to get off the streets and increases chances they’ll access support services.

“I know that many experts in Brighton and Hove would like to follow a similar approach and I hope we can learn from Glasgow’s example, which shows pioneering treatment is possible if the political will to save lives is there.”

PCC Katy Bourne said: "I remain convinced that use of controlled drugs, including cannabis and ecstasy, should be illegal.

“Those advocating liberalisation, whether it be decriminalisation or a ‘medicated’ approach, are, in my view, advocating a very risky experiment with the health of a whole generation.

“I have yet to see any convincing evidence that any kind of legalisation of drug use would result in fewer drug users.”

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Boniface said the city’s Independent Drugs Commission decided that a drugs consumption room was not the most effective use of resources to tackle drug use in the city.

He added: “It is currently in conflict with the law and is generally a resolution to a huge public injecting problem.

"We continue to be committed to looking at new ways to tackle drugs in the city and protect people from the harm that they cause."