“Groups of men and women sit around openly injecting drugs in the middle of the street and going to the toilet wherever they want.”
A North Belfast mum has called for urgent action as she says the street she lives on has become a hotspot for constant drug abuse and anti-social behaviour as people inject openly in the middle of the street.
The mum, who does not wish to be named, says that for the past two years, on Annesley Street off Carlisle Circus has been constantly plagued by people using it as a location to drink and take drugs, saying she regularly sees people injecting drugs in the middle of the street just yards away from her front door.
She said groups arrive on the street every day and have become aggressive toward local residents when asked to leave. It has been alleged that when police arrive on the street, the groups involved in anti-social behaviour just move a few hundred yards to another location and wait for them to leave before returning.
Speaking to Belfast Live, the concerned parent said: “The things that we have to deal with on a daily basis is disgusting. Groups of men and women sit around openly injecting drugs in the middle of the street and going to the toilet wherever they want.
“The pavement is constantly covered in used needles and empty beer cans and have had them thrown into our gardens. It is not fair on local families who have to live beside this every day with their children.
“When we tell them people to leave they can get aggressive with us but when we ring the police that doesn’t do much either because they just walk a few hundred yards down the road until they leave and then come back again. We have had meetings with the police where we have been promised that this would be dealt with but nothing seems to have changed and the issues are as bad as they have ever been.”
North Belfast independent councillor Paul McCusker has been helping local residents regarding the ongoing issues on Annesley Street and said it is part of a wider issue Belfast that needs to be urgently address and can’t just be “pushed around” to different locations in the city.
He said: “People need to accept that there is a serious drug problem in Belfast. I am aware of the ongoing issues on Annesley Street and have been speaking with local residents and can understand how frightening it can be, especially when they have young children, to see people injecting in the street.
“I have called for a meeting with police, local residents and Choice Housing in the hopes that this issue can be addressed. But we cannot just push this to another location and this is part of a wider problem in Belfast where drug use is increasing. It needs to be dealt with at a policy level but is sadly lacking the political support from the larger parties.”
Inspector Hamilton said: “I fully understand the effect antisocial behaviour can have on communities. Police are here to listen to all community concerns and to work with local residents and partner agencies to find a solution to any issues and will act on any information we are given.
“Drug and substance abuse is a complex societal issue which is affecting many cities across the UK and Ireland. We have been working tirelessly with our partner agencies to clean up locations where drug use was suspected to have been taking place and to make these locations less welcoming environments for drug users.
“I appeal to anyone who finds what they suspect to be drug paraphernalia: do not touch these items. Contact police on the non-emergency number 101, or if they are in a public area, contact Belfast City Council on 028 9027 0469 and a specialist team will safely recover the items.
“I also remind those who use needles of the risks to others they cause by discarding them so wantonly. These items can be dangerous, especially to younger children who may not be aware of what they have found.”
“We know that street-level drug dealing and drug use is happening across Northern Ireland, but we need the help and support of local communities to remove this activity from our streets. Drugs bring misery to individuals, families and communities. I want to warn people to be mindful of the dangers of taking illegal drugs or misusing prescription medication or other chemical products.
“We are committed to addressing illegal drug use and supply. Anyone who is suspected of involvement in the supply of drugs can expect to be arrested by police and presented before the courts.
“Our message is clear and simple: if you see or know of anyone who is dealing drugs in your local area, then contact your local police on 101. Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.”
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