Latest news with #PeterKrykant
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Avenues work on two Glasgow city centre streets now complete
Holland Street and Pitt Street, part of the wider £120m City Avenues project, are re-open, including new tree-lined streets, widened pavements with a Caithness stone finish, segregated cycle lanes and green landscaping. Along these streets, an influx of private investment has also led to hundreds of homes being built in the area. READ NEXT:Peter Krykant was brave enough to take risks because he wanted to save lives The development is being hailed as the biggest physical transformation of the Glasgow city centre since the pedestrianisation of Buchanan Street in the 1970s. The Holland Street/Pitt Street project was delivered with both the Scottish and UK Governments contributing £2.4million, with additional funding provided from developer contributions and Transport Scotland. Amongst the complimentary investments adding to the transformation of the area is Moda's Holland Park apartment building. Moda is one of the private investors who have built in the area, building the Holland Park development on the site of the old HQ of Strathclyde Police. James Blakey, Moda Group's director of planning and engagement, said: 'Moda is proud to have supported these improvements, reinforcing our commitment to investing in the city's future.' 'The city council said when complete, the Avenues programme - which includes the transformation of George Square - will form a network of attractive and accessible streets comparable with the people-focused changes introduced across Europe and designed to encourage more residents, visitors and investors to the city centre. Councillor Angus Millar, Glasgow City Council's Convenor for City Centre Recovery, praised the transformation of the area. He said: 'The Holland and Pitt Street Avenue also show how public and private investment is working together to unlock opportunities across the city centre, creating vibrant and attractive new districts.'
The National
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Peter Krykant spoke from Scotland to the world – but work isn't done
Peter Krykant stepped into that void. Peter first caught my attention when he openly dared to break the law by opening a safe consumption space. I was working to end the drug war in the United States at the time, lobbying Congress and the White House, and Peter's actions were galvanising. 'How a Man With a Van Is Challenging UK Drug Policy' was how the New York Times described Peter in a 2020 article. His actions were inspiring. I was reminded of the civil disobedience of the racial justice movement of the 1960s, of the ability to make the law – this seemingly entrenched part of society – look cruel, unjust, and stupid. Peter Krykant in his safe consumption van"I obviously don't want to be arrested, but I'm willing to put myself in that position and I think it'll only reflect badly on the government if that happens," he told the BBC. His bravery was enlivening. It was not just his boldness that caught my attention; it was also the other aspects that drove him. Peter never chose to work on drug policy. He had lived experience. He knew first-hand the stigma that comes with using drugs, where terms like 'junkie' or 'fiend' are common parlance, even in the media. His battle was not just with politicians; but with society itself. He showed us all the value of centring people with lived experience when it comes to changing policy. In a social media post a week ago discussing overdose death, Peter lamented: 'I lost my first family member when I was 15, my uncle. Then my cousin around 17 years ago. Another cousin December 2018, my aunt and uncle's only child, then in September 2021 the youngest death, my cousin who left a 5-year-old daughter. 'I carried his coffin. His daughter standing over the grave asking when daddy would be back, it doesn't get any easier.' (Image: Twitter/Peter Krykant) The politicians feared him because he did not cower. Invites to meet with the first minister or calls with other leaders, attention from the media, a rise in profile, these things can often make someone play the political game of access, plaudits, and incremental change. Not Peter. He continued to speak truth to power and call them out for inaction. He didn't care who he offended or if an invite was rescinded. His was a crusade to save his friends and family. When I started to write about Scottish drug policy, I felt a sense of imposter syndrome, as someone who was not living in Scotland. A good friend connected me with Peter, who was then always there to help guide me. I asked him about what impacted people were asking for, what policy changes he wanted, and included them in my articles. When we finally met at the International Drug Policy Reform Conference in Arizona in October 2023, he was warm, full of banter and good chat, reminding me of friends I miss from back home. READ MORE: Peter Krykant: Scotland must act on drug deaths even if the UK won't Peter and I were not especially close, but in recent months, his social media posts revealed someone who was struggling and there is now guilt that I could have reached out to connect again amid his challenges. I am sure those closer to him feel similar. His legacy is centring impacted voices in the drug policy debate and advancing a saner drug policy in Scotland, notably the opening of a legal safe consumption room in Glasgow. But his fight goes on. Drug deaths are astronomical – and the day after he died one Scottish newspaper led its front page with the headline 'Safe drugs room sparks 175 complaints on needles litter'. Peter would have torn this newspaper apart for its NIMBYism, the stigma, and the desire to lambast a life-saving intervention because of litter complaints when drug deaths have just risen by a third. Peter's legacy is strong, and he will be sorely missed across the globe, but the hard work remains. Michael Collins is a native Glaswegian who lives in Atlanta. He is the former director for national affairs at Drug Policy Alliance.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
‘Courageous' drug policy campaigner Peter Krykant found dead aged 48
Peter Krykant, the campaigner who risked arrest to blaze a trail for safer drug consumption facilities in Scotland, has died at the age of 48. The activist became a public figure in 2020 after creating and operating the UK's first unofficial overdose prevention service in Glasgow using a repurposed van, in a bid to alleviate the drug deaths crisis still claiming lives in Scotland and the wider UK. Operating for nine months, the service – which offered drug users in the city a sanitary and supervised alternative to consuming drugs alone in the street or at home – oversaw nearly 900 injections, successfully intervening in all nine overdoses that occurred, a study found. These lifesaving facilities have long been rejected by Westminster, despite being used in close to 20 countries worldwide, and Krykant was arrested in 2020 for his efforts to prevent overdoses and reduce the spread of bloodborne viruses – with the charges later dropped. In the wake of Krykant's activism, however, Scotland's lord advocate intervened in 2023 to say that such prosecutions 'would not be in the public interest'. As a result, the UK government relented that it would not block such services in Scotland, as pressure mounted on Holyrood to take more radical steps to save lives. The UK's only safer drug consumption facility, The Thistle, opened in the East End of Glasgow earlier this year. In its first seven weeks of opening, The Thistle was used more than 1,000 times by 143 individuals, with a number of medical emergencies managed over that period. But while many campaigners credit Krykant with paving the way for this lifesaving service and helping to pile pressure on Holyrood to prioritise tackling the crisis, the campaigner would later say that it had taken a toll on his own wellbeing. 'It took somebody ruining their life for them [politicians] to say they could do something about it [the drugs crisis], and that person was me,' Krykant told author Dr Kojo Koram in January, adding: 'I'm not in a good place, now. And that all stems from when I took the decision to go out and run that van.' After running his facility for nine months in Glasgow without funding or official permission, Krykant donated the vehicle, which was later upgraded to a repurposed ambulance, to the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, which took it around the UK. Krykant would later stand in the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections as an independent candidate, and went on to work for the drug treatment charity Cranstoun, continuing to be a prominent voice globally in drug policy discussions. Mr Krykant, who started taking drugs aged 11 and began to inject heroin at the age of 17, while also experiencing homelessness, stopped using drugs for 11 years. He would later say that the pressure of politics and his activism had caused him to relapse into using drugs. He had been visiting London in the days before his death but had returned to his flat in Larbert, when friends became concerned about his wellbeing, the Daily Record reported. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 5.15pm on Monday, 9 June 2025, police attended an address in Graham Avenue, Larbert following a report of a concern for person. 'The body of a 48-year-old man was found within. His next of kin has been informed. A post mortem examination will be carried out in due course. The death is being treated as unexplained.' Scotland's first minister John Swinney was among those to pay tribute to Krykant, saying: 'His powerful voice on drugs policy reform, in particular his tireless work to deliver safe consumption rooms, leaves an important legacy which will be remembered.' Aamer Anwar, the lawyer who represented Krykant when he was arrested in 2020, described him as 'a one-man army, with a mission to save lives', adding: 'It was humbling to see him single-handedly fight to deliver the first safe consumption room for drugs in the UK. 'Since childhood he was driven by demons, but Peter was also a beautiful, kind and courageous man. He leaves behind his two boys whom he loved dearly and family and friends who will be utterly devastated. 'I hope with time they can find some comfort in that Peter will be at peace and his name will one day be remembered as a drugs campaigner decades ahead of his time.' Journalist Dani Garavelli said: 'Peter Krykant kept all the lives being lost to drugs in the public eye [and] forced the Scottish government into action'. Noting that, without his efforts, The Thistle would not exist, the columnist added: 'It was a privilege to know him. I hope he's at peace.' Ronnie Cowan, former SNP MP for Inverclyde, said: 'Peter Krykant dared to go where no politicians would. He led by example with great bravery and a tenacious enthusiasm. While we talked and people died, Peter acted. I was proud to support his DCR and only wish we could have done more.'
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Glasgow Times
Peter Krykant took risks because he wanted to save lives
Nearby residents have been frustrated and angry at the level of discarded needles in the area for years. They hoped, and were told, the Thistle would help reduce this by giving people a safe space to inject indoors but the practice of outdoor injecting continues. On the other hand, the centre has so far saved the lives of 38 people. That has to be welcomed but they can't simply be kept alive from one injection to the next. If it is to be part of the solution, there must be a clear route from the Thistle to recovery and a much greater effort made to get people drug free. Before the Thistle could be opened legally, Peter Krykant took huge risks and opened up an Overdose Prevention Centre in a converted transit van. (Image: Mark F Gibson) (Image: Mark F Gibson) I first met Peter in 2019 at an event in Possilpark to highlight the rapidly rising drug deaths. He approached after the meeting and said he was going to open a mobile drug consumption room. I, like many others, I'm sure, was sceptical. But there was something about the man that said he was serious and we agreed to keep in contact. I met Peter several times since that first meeting. READ NEXT: Another wasted year in Glasgow's drug death shame READ NEXT:Squalid drug site just yards from Glasgow Green shows why safe room is needed He took me down to a riverbank site where he said he used to take drugs many years ago. As we walked around, picking our way through needles and syringes, I could see the sadness in his face that it was still being used for the same purpose by a new generation. When he got his van kitted out, he parked it up close to another site where he knew people were using drugs. Unlike the health board, the council and the government, Peter Krykant didn't have a big budget, but he was prepared to risk his own money to prevent people from dying on the street. He was prepared to risk his liberty by opening up an illegal facility to prevent people from dying on the street. A quote from Peter was 'If trying to save lives is a crime, I'm guilty'. The 2019 meeting was organised by Favor (Faces and Voices of Recovery) and in particular Annemarie Ward and Natalie Logan Maclean, who were instrumental in getting the drug death issue the attention it deserved. READ NEXT:Lack of action on Glasgow's drugs problem 'costing lives everyday' The two women had had enough of seeing friends and family die while politicians prevaricated and officials failed to provide the support necessary. After that meeting, the drug death issue got more media attention and eventually, politicians took notice. But people are still dying in the same high numbers. Scotland hasn't got it right yet, far from it, but we all need to hope that we will. There is much disagreement among campaigners on the effectiveness of consumption rooms and not everyone agreed with Peter Krykant. In the future, when hopefully Scotland finally gets to grips with the drug death scandal, I believe that period, from that meeting in Possilpark - and many others organised by Annemarie and Natalie, to Peter Krykant opening his Overdose Prevention Van, will be looked on as a watershed. We are not there yet; the scandal persists. Since that meeting, more than 5000 people have died in drug-related deaths in Scotland. We need to unite on a way forward to end the scandal. READ NEXT:Rise in suspected drug deaths in Glasgow so far this year Peter Krykant had a troubled past but he had a heart and a vision. He understood more than most of us what people who are living with addiction are going through. When I heard Peter had died on Monday, I felt genuine sadness. Sadness for a troubled man who put others before himself and for a man who died way too soon when he had so much to give and so much to live for. He wanted to save lives. I feel privileged to have met him.
Sky News
a day ago
- Sky News
Peter Krykant: 'Beautiful, kind and courageous' drug policy campaigner found dead
A leading drug policy reform campaigner who championed safe consumption rooms has died at the age of 48. Peter Krykant became a public figure in 2020 after setting up an unofficial facility in a minivan in response to Scotland's growing number of drug-related deaths. The vehicle, which was later upgraded to a former ambulance, was taken around Glasgow in a bid to provide a clean space and support for addicts. Mr Krykant, who was a recovering heroin addict and often spoke of his own battles with drugs, hoped the service would prevent overdoses and blood-borne viruses (BBV) among users. The activist, who ran as an independent candidate in the 2021 Holyrood election, always called for dignity for those seeking help. The Thistle - the UK's first safer drug consumption facility (SDCF) - opened in Glasgow in January. Police Scotland said Mr Krykant's body was found by officers on Monday at a property in Graham Avenue, Larbert, following a report of concern for a person. A force spokesperson added: "His next of kin has been informed. A post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course. The death is being treated as unexplained." First Minister John Swinney said he was "shocked and saddened" to learn of Mr Krykant's death. He added: "His powerful voice on drugs policy reform, in particular his tireless work to deliver safe consumption rooms, leaves an important legacy which will be remembered." 2:40 High-profile lawyer Aamer Anwar described Mr Krykant as "a one-man army, with a mission to save lives". Mr Anwar represented Mr Krykant when he was arrested in 2020 in connection with the mobile overdose prevention centre. Charges were later dropped. Mr Anwar said: "It was humbling to see him single-handedly fight to deliver the first safe consumption room for drugs in the UK. "Since childhood he was driven by demons, but Peter was also a beautiful, kind and courageous man. "He leaves behind his two boys whom he loved dearly and family and friends who will be utterly devastated. "I hope with time they can find some comfort in that Peter will be at peace and his name will one day be remembered as a drugs campaigner decades ahead of his time." Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said his party was "deeply saddened" by the news. He added: "Peter was a tireless campaigner for a fairer, more compassionate approach to handling drug misuse and addiction, and his campaigning has left such an important legacy in the UK's first safe consumption room in Glasgow. "His advocacy for drug reform, and of course, his yellow van have no doubt saved countless lives in Scotland."
