Police admit scale of drugs problem but refuse to commit resources
The IWCA took the opportunity to question Thames Valley Police over its failure to tackle drug dealing on Blackbird Leys at the South East
Area Committee meeting on 1 August.
Councillor Stuart Craft asked the officers present why—after the short period of highly visible police activity following the IWCA’s first
community anti-drugs patrol—there was now an apparent lack of interest in the well-known dealing hotspots on the estate.
Local beat officer, PC Utley, responded that he knew nothing about the IWCA patrol or the problem areas highlighted by the IWCA. This is
remarkable given the intense media coverage of the patrol, including Utley’s own Chief Inspector appearing on Central News to criticise the
IWCA approach and deny there was a significant problem.
To PC Utley’s embarrassment one of the new Community Support Officers interjected to inform the meeting that ‘we know all about the problem
in Balfour Road, Wingate Close and Moorbank.’
She then went on to say that a lack of resources was preventing the police from stopping the dealers as they just wait until officers have
gone before continuing to ply their trade.
Cllr Craft told the meeting, ‘Where there is a problem as serious as this resources should be made available. There should be no excuses
from the authorities for not taking the necessary action.’
Leys Independent, issue 29, August 2005
| 
