A WAR on drugs and anti-social behaviour has been declared after the arrest of a suspected dealer led to the police and Charford Residents’ Association becoming inundated with information on criminal activity.
At 2am last Friday during a swoop at a property in Lyttleton Avenue, a 17-year-old was captured by police suspected class A and B drugs and hundreds of pounds in cash were seized.
Since then residents have taken to Facebook and WhatsApp groups set up by Coun Michael Thompson to report a variety of crimes.
Police have stepped up patrols, particularly around Austin Road and Tibberton Court and are working through the information given.
Coun Thompson said: “Response on our Love Charford Facebook page indicates the community was delighted with last week’s result, but it does not stop here.
“We have a clear message that drugs and anti-social behaviour are not wanted and we are working with the police regularly to stamp it out.
“There are people who say ‘things will never change’ but there is a growing number of eyes and ears around Charford.”
He appealed to teenagers to not partake in anti-social behaviour or follow pathways into drugs and crime.
And, after new CCTV cameras were introduced to Barnt Green and Hagley, he said he would be appealing to the district council to fast-track CCTV to Charford’s ‘hotspots’.
“We have waited too long as it is.”
The area’s county councillor Kyle Daisley added he was committed to working with Coun Thompson and the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) John Campion in tackling the long-standing issues affecting residents’ lives.
“I have firsthand experience of losing family through drugs and want to ensure that this does not happen to residents in our community.”
He has contacted the PCC to seek support in funding CCTV for Charford and will be contributing to it through his divisional funds.
