Express & Star

Outcry as 345 used needles discovered in Wolverhampton over four days

More than 300 discarded needles were collected from streets in one part of Wolverhampton in the space of just four days, with the area said to be facing its 'worst ever' drug crisis.

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Calls have now been made for more police patrols following the discovery by volunteers walking around Whitmore Reans.

Residents, police chiefs and councillors met at a neighbourhood police PACT meeting, held at Newhampton Arts Centre, to discuss the issue.

During the meeting, PACT chairman David Manning revealed that volunteers collected a total of 345 needles over two weekends.

He said: "It could be said the drug problem we currently have in Whitmore Reans is more problematic than we have had before.

"Every street has its own little drug dealer and its own little drug users, who take no responsibility for their community.

"You can see they are completely unaware of the disgust they are creating.

"Over the past two weekends a group of volunteers picked up 345 needles and when that amount of discarded drug paraphernalia is collected it makes you open your eyes.

"As a result, people don't feel they can let their children leave the house and go out over the park, they can't take their dogs for a walk.

"This is the worst I have ever known it in terms of drug use in Whitmore Reans."

Members of the public called for more assistance to be given to the police in order to catch people who discard needles in the streets, with one resident, who did not want to be named, saying he had seen needles thrown on the floor 'two feet' away from a children's play area.

A bin placed in Dunstall Woods specifically for needles to be discarded earlier this year was ripped from its foundations a short while after being put up.

Sergeant Kevin Whitehouse, from the Park and St Peters neighbourhood policing team, said the force was working to try and tackle drug dealers and users in the area.

He said: "When it comes to street dealers, Whitmore Reans has got a lot compared to other places in Wolverhampton.

"There are places in Birmingham which have similar issues and we need extra resources to tackle the problem. But if we can get to them, then the problem is going to decrease. In this part of Wolverhampton, we get a lot of information about street dealers and we are constantly trying to chase them down and lock them up."

Councillor Michael Hardacre, who represents the Park ward, said a joint approach to battling drug issues in the area is needed.

He said: "We do get a lot of complaints regarding drug use and issues surrounding that, and for the problem to improve the police, the council and the public are going to have to continue working together."

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