Special rooms where drugs addicts can inject safely must provide treatment and not just become "shooting galleries."

That is the view of the director of Swindon Drugs and Alcohol Service, Bill Carlton.

Supt Paul Williams says Wiltshire Police have reservations about the proposals that were revealed yesterday.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has put forward the idea that drug-taking rooms should be tried out in the UK.

Over the past decade the UK has consistently had the highest number of drug deaths in Europe and the committee thinks the rooms would be one way of tackling this.

The independent group, chaired by Dame Ruth Runciman, included experts from the police, legal and health sectors.

Mr Carlton, said: "I feel that anything that helps prevent drug-related deaths or blood-borne viruses is going to be a positive move forward.

"I think it's important that if it's piloted they should be a gateway into treatment and not just shooting galleries.

"The key factor is they could help with harm reduction. They will be clean and users will be able to take heroin safely but it must be a gateway to treatment."

There are 65 drug consumption rooms around the world but none in this country. The report suggested introducing the rooms here would reduce the number of needles discarded in public places and allow people to inject in a hygienic place.

Dave Cork, the manager of Druglink, said the idea would require the cooperation of the police and the investment in training staff.

"It would require a lot of training in terms of first aid and overdose prevention," he said.

"If you're creating a room for injecting there is a danger of overdosing."

Mr Cork said it would be important to look at a pilot scheme before coming to any conclusions.

He added: "We do want to get as many people injecting safely and the amount of needles found outside reduced.

"Members of the community don't want syringes being left around the town."

Supt Williams said: "This matter is being looked at nationally by the Association of Chief Police Officers, which recognises the reservations across the police service regarding the reports proposals.

"However ACPO are part of an ongoing discussion to ensure the police perspective is considered and will continue to engage in dialogue with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and all those involved in trying to reduce the harm caused by the consumption of illegal drugs."