CONCERNS have been raised over streets in Shipley being used for drug dealing.

Councillor Kevin Warnes (Green, Shipley) says residents have contacted him over drug dealing, both day and night, taking place in some of the town’s streets, particularly in Wycliffe Road, Park Grove, St Paul’s Road and Baker Street.

They say the problem has been going on for several years but has escalated over the last six months.

Now the residents of those streets have met with police officers from Shipley to work together on a solution to the problem.

Ideas so far have included setting up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in the area.

Inspector Julie Deacon, who leads the Shipley Area Neighbourhood Team, thanked residents for raising their concerns and said it was working on an operation to tackle the problem.

Cllr Warnes said he was unsure what drugs were being dealt, but there had not been any reports of needles left on the streets.

He said: “The residents I have spoken to are fed up. They have lived with it for so long.

“It is not younger people doing it, it is people in their 30s and 40s doing the dealing.

“It is very unpleasant for local people to witness this.

“This is not what you want to deal with in our community.

“We have agreed with the police to be more vigilant and support the residents.

“We are not going to solve it overnight. It’s happening every day, according to residents at several different times of the day.

“It is not just about law enforcement, but most of the people involved in this need help with drug dependency.

“It has been going on for years, but it has got a lot worse over the last six months or so.”

A St Paul’s Road resident, who did not want to be named, spoke of seeing more than a dozen people each day dealing drugs.

She said: “The problem seems to be getting worse. It’s an unhealthy environment. I often see around three or four different groups of people turning up here, waiting for a car to arrive. It’s just terribly depressing and demoralising.”

Insp Deacon said: “Our neighbourhood officers are working with partner agencies and district resources on an operation to tackle this problem and arrest those suspected of being involved in the supply of drugs. Drug dealing will not be tolerated and we would ask anyone in Shipley with concerns to report them to the local team on 101 or by email to shipleynt@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

“Information about suspects can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”

MORE TOP STORIES