A Glasgow tattoo artist has been slammed for putting a sign up banning “junkies”.

Senior staff at charities in the city who work with addicts say it “stigmatises” drug users.

The sign on the door of Timeless Tattoo states “Strictly…no junkies!”

The shop (above) in Dundas Street is just yards from busy Queen Street Station.

David Liddell, Chief Executive of charity Scottish Drugs Forum, described the sign as “deeply unhelpful”.

“I don’t know what the shopkeeper is trying to achieve but this kind of language only helps to further alienate some of our communities’ most marginalised people,” he said.

“The labels we give people can stop us seeing the human being behind that label. If we are to help people survive with a drug problem and move on to make progress in their lives we have to see the person that they are and work with them.”

John Holleran of charity Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs said: “This message, and the stigmatising language it contains, reinforces how prevalent negative attitudes towards the recovery community are today.

“Family members tell us that it is these derogatory labels that often makes it more difficult for them to access services for themselves when supporting a loved one in recovery.”

Drug workers at charity Turning Point Scotland have offered to meet the tattoo artist and discuss “a more constructive response”.

“I think it is safe to say that the sign can be seen to reinforce the stigma a lot of people with problematic drug use face,” said Craig Winter, a director at the charity.

“Where we will continue to offer advice, support and guidance to individuals we also see building positive community responses as key to tackling the issues of problematic drug use in the city.

“For example, in this instance, I’m sure we or other health care colleagues would be more than happy to discuss with the shop owner a more constructive response to the issues they have clearly felt needed addressed by their placing of the sign.”

The shop manager, who only gave his name as ‘Steven’, defended the sign.

He said: “The shop has quite a lot of trouble with drug users. A lot of people come in who are out of their face and cause disruption. Some are drunks. Some are junkies.

“The sign is not supposed to be there to single people out - we just don’t want trouble in our shop. I’ve had people threaten me, verbally abuse me and attempt to attack me.”

He added: “We’ve had no complaints (about the sign). If customers complained we’d speak to them about it. It’s a popular sign. A lot of people take photos of it.”