Illegal drug use has forced the council to close Stroud’s public toilets. Needles and drug paraphernalia have made it too dangerous for cleaners to do their job.
Though Stroud District Council is currently coming up with its own solutions, the SNJ scoured the globe to see what else has been tried out to cut down on drug users taking to public toilets.
1. Blue lights
A Sainsbury’s in Cambridgeshire fitted blue lights in its customer toilets to combat drug-taking back in September 2003. The hope was blue light would stop veins from showing up on arms, in turn deterring drug-injecting users. It is a common tactic for nightclubs.
2. The Portland Loo
Weathered-looking steel shells wrapped around single toilet bowls dot the streets of Portland, Oregon. They are fitted with slacks which allow the city’s police to see in if they suspect illegal activity.
3. Disposal bins
In 2015 needle bins to allow drug users to safely disposed of used syringes were installed in five public toilets in Belfast city centre. They were small silver plaques fitted to the wall with the words "sharps disposal" on them.
4. Supervised injection sites
Vancouver is home to the first legal supervised drug injection site in North America. Primarily heroin users are able to use the site under the watch of staff in a health-focused location. The clinic does not supply any drugs.
5. Cut down on crack(s)
Nooks and crannies in public toilets are sometimes used to store drugs, whether by users or dealers. Moveable tiles in ceilings are classic culprits.
6. Greater enforcement
More monitoring by police, CCTV cameras or an attendee could protect the toilets against anti-social behaviour.
7. Get rid of them
No toilets, no problem - right?
What do you think the council should do? Is the toilet problem even solvable? Let us know in the comments or email alex.clark@newsquest.co.uk
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