Jack McConnell has called for a radical shake-up in Scotland’s drug rehabilitation policy after witnessing a controversial new heroin addiction treatment in action. The First Minister said that Scotland must seek to abandon the methadone programme and look instead for new, drug-free methods of kicking heroin.

Volunteers would answer 999 calls in the capital under plans being considered by Lothian and Borders Police. The idea has been attacked as “policing on the cheap” by politicians and trade unions. They said it smacked of cost-cutting and would damage confidence in the police.

Safe houses and support for victims of human trafficking could soon be established in Aberdeen. The city council is being urged to sign a declaration aimed at addressing the growing global social problem – described as modern-day slavery.

Councillor Danny Molloy is to resign from Midlothian Council after 30 years of service, in the wake of a damning report on the state of the council’s social work department.

Scottish police forces are to be given more powers to tackle the problem of anti-social behaviour. Ministers are to announce that officers will be able to issue on-the-spot fines for a number of crimes, including drunkenness and vandalism.

Staff at a Scottish hospital are testing out a simple idea to reduce the number of mistakes made when making up patients’ drugs. Nurses in charge of the drugs round at Gartnavel hospital in Glasgow wear red tabards when dispensing drugs.

A frantic hunt for a Selkirk pensioner’s missing wheelchair ended when social work chiefs admitted they had taken it from outside his home. Retired teacher Harry Anderson, who has been paralysed from the chest down since contracting polio 40 years ago, had contacted Scottish Borders Council in January to ask them to collect a shower chair that he no longer needed.

Shelter Scotland has launched its new ‘It’s time to get a move in’ campaign to secure investment for 30,000 affordable rented homes for 2012. Shelter Scotland, along with other housing organisations, is calling on the Scottish Executive to fund 30,000 homes over three years (2008-11), through this year’s comprehensive spending review.

The mother of Misbah Rana has told how she gave up her custody fight because she feared the legal battle could bring on a nervous breakdown. Louise Campbell told a BBC programme it was difficult to allow her daughter, also known as Molly Campbell, to live in Pakistan with father, Sajad Rana.

A blind 98-year-old has had his council home help withdrawn because cash is to be focused on “the most vulnerable and at risk”. George MacDonald, who lives in sheltered housing at Haugh Court, Inverness, was registered blind 15 years ago, had a stroke 12 years ago and has suffered poor health since he was hit by a car in Union Street seven years ago.