A proposed trial of installing crap boxes in the heart of Belfast is not a "silver bullet" but a step toward solving the city's drug problem, a MP said.

Brian Smyth talked about whether to install the bins in a council-owned parking lot on Little Donegal Street before the Belfast Cition Council vote on Thursday.

Councillors chose a parking lot last month at a location on the People’s and Community Council’s Corporate Square.

Greens Representative Smyth said the city council lifted between 600 and 700 needles in the city center every month, and other organizations are involved in the collection of needles.

A report from the Council said that needle detection has increased in recent months and has been “highlighted as the top six locations”.

The proposed metal needle box will be secured to the ground and will provide a safe way to handle sharpness.

Smyth had previously proposed a motion to place a similar bin on Writers Square, but it was not the council's land.

He said the Ministry of Community (DFC) rejected the call.

"They are worried about the image, but what I want to say is that if the needle continues to be found in a high sense, that will provide the image problem."

A DFC spokesman said it recognizes that substance abuse and related anti-social behavior in the city center are a major issue and is working closely with other organizations, including the Council, to address these issues.

Smith said members of the board cleaning team found needles for regular trash bin disposal.

“It poses a risk not only to them, but to the public,” he said.

“Although this is a small response, I think we need to revolve around drug use in and around Belfast’s city centre and in and around and how we can solve it.”

In March 2023, Belfast City Councillors passed a motion that would facilitate the establishment of safe injection facilities to help prevent drug users from overdose.

The Council does not have the legal authority to open facilities and therefore changes to legislation are needed.

The aim is to reduce drug overdose and drug-related hazards and reduce the visibility of drug use to the community.

Smith said such a facility could make “people who live, work and socialize downtown” safe.

Damian McNairney, a volunteer and trustee of Belfast People’s Kitchen, said the bin would help describe Belfast city centre as being in a drug crisis.

The kitchen supports vulnerable and homeless people.

"We need to be more risky, we need to be more compassionate in how we solve this problem," Mr McNaini said.

“Addicts are being demonized and we need to check and see if we can help.

“If we solve these problems, i.e. addiction, then we will be able to deal with drug paraphernalia and other issues related to that.”

There are other areas where “more prominent use” are available, but it is always positive to take out needles from the street, Mr McNainey said.

"There are needles in the town anyway. They won't go away without letting go of the bins," he said.

Mr McNainey said he had visited a safe injection site that opened in Dublin in 2024 and he favored similar facilities in Belfast.

"It seems encouraging in terms of people using it, drug paraphernalia has been taken away, it has been handled safely, and addicted people are bidding for other services," he said.

In March, Attorney General Naomi Long told the BBC News NI that “the war on drugs has not been won” and that Northern Ireland needs to be reconsidered how illegal drugs are handled.