Junkies' den behind cop shop
Maxwell Kusi Obodum • Published 9 Apr 2011 09:00
0 Comments
Share this
click to enlarge
Shocking: Used and fresh needles stashed in alleyway.
THESE shocking pictures show the used needles and blackened spoons from a sordid drugs den in an alleyway just feet from a neighbourhood police office.
The Chronicle photographed the paraphernalia on two days this week in a passageway running from Beresford Road to Valentia Road in West Reading.
The Oxford Road police team is based in a shop unit backing on to the alley and staff go in and out five days a week.
Yet nothing was done about the junkies' den until nutritionist Helen Dolby, 32, complained to the police and alerted The Chronicle.
Specialist neighbourhood officer PC Aaron Gibbs, who works in the office, said: "We are now aware of it and will increase our patrols and will ensure our PCSOs pay close attention to it, but we encourage people who see anything untoward to contact us."
The alleyway is obviously in frequent use by drug addicts and is littered with used needles, surrounded by rotting mattresses, beer cans and dried vomit, along with more than 20 polythene sheaths containing fresh needles apparently waiting for the next user.
Shocked Miss Dolby said: "It's such a mess - they've got to do something about it. I can't believe the police haven't seen it - it's right behind their office!
"There are children playing in gardens right next to it who could easily get over there."
A pensioner living in Catherine Street too scared to give her name said: "They put the gates up, but a lot of the time they are left open and people can get in there.
"It's disgusting, they are killing themselves doing that stuff - they should do more to clear it out. It must be crawling with all sorts of disease."
When contacted by The Chronicle, Reading West MP Alok Sharma said: "I will take this up as a matter of urgency with the police."
Council spokesman Oscar Mortali said: "The private owners of the land need to contact the council if they require us to clear the alleyway."
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 14 Apr 11
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.
