HIV Scotland has become the latest organisation to confirm it will support an illegal facility if an official service isn't created

Charity HIV Scotland has said it will support plans for an illegal drug consumption room.

The organisation said it would support individuals and charities operating a community-led facility if an official safe injecting room could not be established.

Waverley Care and the Scottish Drugs Forum have already said that they would back the facility if plans for an official facility are not allowed to proceed.

Two key drug summits were held in Glasgow earlier this month, with the issue of safe consumption rooms at the top of the agenda.

Experts in Scotland have argued that creating safe spaces for adults to inject - or drug consumption rooms (DCRs) - would help protect those addicted to drugs, however the UK government doubled down on its stance that it would not allow consumption rooms.

This has prompted calls for an illegal facility to be created in Scotland, with a crowdfunding drive already launched to introduce the mobile facility.

Nathan Sparling, chief executive of HIV Scotland, told the Daily Record that it is vital that a consumption room is created.

"Every drug death, and every new HIV transmission is preventable," he said.

"That's why we need the UK and Scottish governments, the Lord Advocate, Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to work together to ensure that a drug consumption room can become a reality in Scotland.

"If this does not happen, we will have no option but to support individuals and charities in operating community-led services that will save lives."