Police urged to step in to deter brazen drug dealers (From Echo)

Cannabis and class A drugs being sold in Laindon

7:40am Wednesday 8th September 2010 in Basildon By Paul Offord

Patrols – Ballards Walk

POLICE have been asked to step up patrols of two Laindon streets following residents’ complaints about drug dealing.

Lynda Gordon, leader of the opposition Labour group on Basildon Council, contacted police after hearing reports from worried residents about dealers openly selling drugs in Ballards Walk and Somercotes.

Officers announced yesterday they will be cracking down on the criminals, who are said to be selling cannabis and a variety of class A drugs during daylight hours and in the evenings.

Mrs Gordon said: “I was contacted by some really frightened residents. It’s pretty terrible, apparently the drug dealers are really blase and don’t mind who sees them.

“In Ballards Walk they drive up to the parade of shops in cars with their music blaring, before doing the deals. They’re selling openly in the street in Somercotes too.

“This isn’t acceptable and it has really shaken up the community.

“I asked the police to increase the number of patrols they carry out down there, to act as a deterrent and catch them in the act.”

She added there had been problems with drug dealing and antisocial behaviour among youths hanging around the Ballards Walk shops in previous years, but troublemakers were driven away after police targeted the area with high visibility patrols.

She hopes they will do the same thing again this autumn.

Police Inspector Mark Rayner said: “We are grateful for councillor Gordon passing on this information, as the community is our biggest partner in the fight against crime.

“Drug dealing is taken very seriously, as it blights our communities and makes residents scared if they witness it.

“We will deal with any reports of criminal activity seriously, and will be regularly patrolling Ballards Walk and Somercotes to deter them from the area.

“I would ask residents to report any suspicious activity to us, as it happens, and if they don’t want to talk to police, they can ring Crimestoppers anonymously.”