Mr Peter Krykant had set up a drugs consumption van in September 2020 providing addicts with sanitisers and clean needles. He was then charged in October for obstruction under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf defended Mr Krykant in the Scottish Parliament stating: “That was really unfortunate, and I strongly believe that Mr Krykant, who has been an activist on these issues for many years, should not be put in a position in which he feels that he has to break the law in order to help some of the most vulnerable people in Scottish communities to stay alive.” He continued that “We [the Scottish Government] absolutely believe in overdose prevention facilities, and we believe that they should be regulated.”
In response to this, Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie stated: “…the establishment of any form of safe consumption location contravenes the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971”.