Stratford businesses raise concerns about rooftop drug dealers
DRUG dealers are running their operations from the rooftops of buildings at the rear of Bridge Street, Stratford, it has been claimed.
They are said to be using the flat roofs as a place to meet and to co-ordinate the supply of drugs to users in town, according to business owners, some of whom have videoed what they claim is criminal night-time activity.
The videos have been passed to Warwickshire Police.
The claims were made during a scheduled police community walkabout around the town centre on Tuesday.
The walk was aimed at addressing public concerns raised by residents and retailers about anti-social behaviour, including drug taking, drunkenness and fighting as featured in last week’s edition of the Herald (6th October).
It’s alleged dealers have free rein of the Bridge Street roofs at night, a space that runs almost the full length of the road and offers restricted access to other people as well as places to hide drugs.
The height the roofs provide is also considered to be a visual advantage, the Herald was told by members of the business community.
As a result of these concerns – which also include some business owners complaining about discarded needles – the police have agreed to meet with retailers to discuss prevention and enforcement, which became the driving force of Tuesday’s walkabout discussion.
It lasted 90 minutes and included a route from Bancroft Gardens, Bridge Street, Wood Street, Rother Market, Sheep Street and concluded in the loading bay off Sheep Street and to the rear of Bridge Street businesses where the alleged drug dealing on rooftops was raised in conversation.
Three business operators in Bridge Street said there was a lack of police action to tackle the rooftop drug problem, despite the video evidence.
Warwickshire Police announced last week the launch of Operation Recording which is designed to tackle anti-social behaviour in the town.
One week on, Inspector Ben Hembury, leading officer from the Stratford Safer Neighbourhood team who also led the walkabout, explained the guiding principles for the new operation.
“This is a first step in trying to address issues about anti-social behaviour and we are also trying to protect the most vulnerable in the community,” he said.
“It’s not sustainable for police on a long-term basis, but it is a very significant preventative measure and we can achieve a lot through education and reason and our last resort is enforcement using evidence.
“We had this plan for three or four months and now it’s ready to go. We intend to use it daily in the town and will review it with our partners.
“It’s important we identify the next best steps to take and make it clear that we can’t – all of us – allow anti-social behaviour to go on and it doesn’t excuse certain individuals from exploiting vulnerable people.
“This is the first opportunity we’ve had because of other commitments and we know it’s a short-term impact and unfortunately we will find some individuals who will return persistently. That’s why we’ll be doing a follow-up because what we are trying to is change behaviours and improve lives.”
Police officers have been issued with a begging checklist of offences that can be reviewed when talking to individuals on the streets of Stratford, but importantly there are also welfare measures included to help protect the vulnerable.
In those cases the emphasis is on protection as opposed to prosecution.
County councillor, Kate Rolfe, (Lib Dem, Stratford South) said: “I think it’s good for businesses to see how the police are dealing with anti-social behaviour.
“Fundamentally it’s a good initiative and more people need to know about it because we don’t know what some businesses have to put up with.”
