Drugs campaigner Peter Krykant dies, aged 48
Peter Krykant, a former heroin addict, became a public figure after he set up an unofficial supervised facility in a van which he took around Glasgow.
Krykant often talked about his own battles with addiction, admitting he started taking drugs when he was just 11 and speaking out about a relapse in 2021.
Police confirmed the 48-year-old's death was being treated as unexplained and a post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course.
A Police Scotland Sotland 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."
Mr Krykant started taking drugs when he was 11 and began to inject heroin at the age of 17, but stopped using drugs for 11 years.
He went on to open a mobile unit in a converted van with the aim of preventing overdoses and the spread of blood-borne viruses among users in Scotland.
He was arrested in 2020 after launching his "safe space" where users could take their own drugs under medical supervision. Charges against him were later dropped.
Earlier this year The Thistle, the UK's first and only drug consumption room opened in the East End of Glasgow in an effort to reduce drug deaths.
Krykant ran for election as an independent candidate in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, campaigning on drug policy issues.
He later said the "cut-throat" world of politics along with the pressure of running the consumption bus caused him to relapse into drug use.
'Fix room' campaigner relapsed after 11 years
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
‘Why isn't he paying?' Trump's golf visit to cost Scottish taxpayers
TURNBERRY, Scotland — It may not be typical golf attire, but one of the most ubiquitous outfits seen on U.S. President Donald Trump 's golf course Friday ahead of his visit was the reflective yellow vest worn by Scottish police. The standard issue garb that is far removed from the traditional Turnberry tartan was highly visible on the dunes, the beaches and the grass as thousands of officers secured the course in advance of protests planned during the president's visit to two of his Scottish golf resorts. Trump was expected to arrive Friday evening to a mix of respect and ridicule. His visit requires a major police operation that will cost Scottish taxpayers millions of pounds as protests are planned over the weekend. The union representing officers is concerned they are already overworked and will be diverted from their normal duties and some residents are not happy about the cost. 'Why isn't he paying for it himself? He's coming for golf, isn't he?' said Merle Fertuson, a solo protester in Edinburgh holding a hand-drawn cardboard sign that featured a foolishly grinning Trump likeness in a tuxedo. 'It's got nothing whatsoever to do with public money, either U.S. or U.K.' Policing for Trump's four-day visit to the U.K. in 2018 cost more than $19 million, according to Freedom of Information figures. That included more than $4 million spent for his two-day golf trip to Turnberry, the historic course and hotel in southwest Scotland that he bought in 2014. Police Scotland would not discuss how many officers were being deployed for operational reasons and only said the costs would be 'considerable.' 'The visit will require a significant police operation using local, national and specialist resources from across Police Scotland, supported by colleagues from other U.K. police forces as part of mutual aid arrangements,' Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said. Scottish First Minister John Swinney said the visit would not be detrimental to policing. 'It's nonsensical to say it won't impact it,' said David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, the officers' union. Kennedy said he expects about 5,000 officers to take part in the operation. He said a force reduction in recent years has police working 12-hour shifts. Communities that are understaffed will be left behind with even fewer officers during Trump's visit. 'We want the president of the United States to be able to come to Scotland. That's not what this is about,' Kennedy said. 'It's the current state of the police service and the numbers we have causes great difficulty.' The Stop Trump Scotland group has planned demonstrations Saturday in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dumfries. The group encouraged people to 'show Trump exactly what we think of him in Scotland.' Trump should receive a much warmer welcome from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is expected to meet with him during the visit. Swinney, the left-leaning head of Scottish government and former Trump critic, also plans to meet with the president. Ha and Melley write for the Associated Press. Melley reported from London. Will Weissert contributed to this report from Edinburgh.
Boston Globe
a day ago
- Boston Globe
‘Why isn't he paying?' Trump's golf visit to cost Scottish taxpayers.
Trump was expected to arrive Friday evening to a mix of respect and ridicule. His visit requires a major police operation that will cost Scottish taxpayers millions of pounds as protests are planned over the weekend. The union representing officers is concerned they are already overworked and will be diverted from their normal duties and some residents are not happy about the cost. 'Why isn't he paying for it himself? He's coming for golf, isn't he?' said Merle Fertuson, a solo protester in Edinburgh holding a hand-drawn cardboard sign that featured a foolishly grinning Trump likeness in a tuxedo. 'It's got nothing whatsoever to do with public money, either U.S. or U.K.' Advertisement A police dog handler walks his dog on the beach to help with security at the Trump Turnberry golf course in Turnberry, Scotland, Friday, July 25, 2025, ahead of President Trump's visit Scotland. Alastair Grant/Associated Press Policing for Trump's four-day visit to the U.K. in 2018 cost more than 14 million pounds ($19 million), according to Freedom of Information figures. That included more than 3 million pounds ($4 million) spent for his two-day golf trip to Turnberry, the historic course and hotel in southwest Scotland that he bought in 2014. Advertisement Police Scotland would not discuss how many officers were being deployed for operational reasons and only said the costs would be 'considerable.' 'The visit will require a significant police operation using local, national and specialist resources from across Police Scotland, supported by colleagues from other U.K. police forces as part of mutual aid arrangements,' Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said. Police on buggies guard the Trump Turnberry golf course in Turnberry, Scotland, Friday, July 25, 2025, ahead of President Trump's visit Scotland. Alastair Grant/Associated Press Scottish First Minister John Swinney said the visit would not be detrimental to policing. 'It's nonsensical to say it won't impact it,' said David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, the officers' union. Kennedy said he expects about 5,000 officers to take part in the operation. He said a force reduction in recent years has police working 12-hour shifts. Communities that are understaffed will be left behind with even fewer officers during Trump's visit. 'We want the president of the United States to be able to come to Scotland. That's not what this is about,' Kennedy said. 'It's the current state of the police service and the numbers we have causes great difficulty.' The Stop Trump Scotland group has planned demonstrations Saturday in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dumfries. The group encouraged people to 'show Trump exactly what we think of him in Scotland.' Trump should receive a much warmer welcome from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is expected to meet with him during the visit. Swinney, the left-leaning head of Scottish government and former Trump critic, also plans to meet with the president. Melley reported from London. Will Weissert contributed from Edinburgh.
The Hill
a day ago
- The Hill
Live updates: DOJ set for second interview with Ghislaine Maxwell; Trump travels to Scotland
President Trump is departing Washington on Friday for a weekend trip to Scotland as furor over the Jeffrey Epstein case continues to grip the political world. The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday is set to interview longtime Epstein associate and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell for a second day. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed Maxwell for roughly five hours Thursday and said the DOJ 'will share additional information about what we learned at the appropriate time.' Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence in Florida following a conviction on sex-trafficking charges, has signaled a willingless to speak with the administration as her legal team appeals her conviction to the Supreme Court. The DOJ has contested her appeal. Maxwell's attorney David Oscar Markus said his client answered every question during her Thursday interview with Blanche at a Tallahassee courthouse and expressed gratitude to the federal government for trying to 'uncover the truth.' Trump in a social media post late Thursday slammed what he characterized as 'the Jeffrey Epstein SCAM' as he seeks to turn the page on the saga, with Republicans ramping up their scrutiny of the Obama administration and the president criticizing renovations at the Federal Reserve during a visit alongside Chair Jerome Powell. The president is expected to face some local protests when he visits Scotland this weekend, with demonstrators seeking to disrupt his trip. He plans to visit his two Scottish golf resorts on the trip to his mother's homeland.
