Plain clothes officers are part of a “huge amount of action” taken by Sussex Police to tackle drug problems in Brighton, a senior officer said today (Friday 18 May).
He was responding to serious concerns raised by police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne about drug dealing and drug use in the St James’s Street area.
She aired those concerns having spoken to traders and people living in the area.
Describing the strength of feeling as palpable at the St James’s Community Action Group AGM, Mrs Bourne said: “A business owner who has businesses in Charles Street and Old Steine said she felt that the area was lawless.
“She said she had considered relocating her business, she talked about frequent drug dealers, people openly injecting and dealing drugs.
“She even gave an example how at one point a person was waving a needle at one member of her staff.
“Her businesses are not in a side alley. They’re up front.”
Other examples cited included drug dealing close to a bus stop used by children just a couple of streets away from Brighton’s police station in John Street.
At the police and crime commissioner’s performance and accountability meeting Deputy Chief Constable Bernie O’Reilly said that action was being taken in the area.
He said: “What we try to do is to assess where the biggest threat or risk or harm might be, depending on what drug dealing is taking place.”
He said that for the past seven days plain clothes officers had been out and about stopping and searching people, taking action where they could.
He added: “There are also the uniformed officers taking action, reassuring the public we are out and about.
“So while it is disappointing to hear people don’t feel this is taking place, I have spoken to colleagues in Brighton only this week a number of times about drug dealing in this area and there is a huge amount of action taking place.”
He urged people to get in touch, saying that the force took feedback seriously.
It’s not just in the area mentioned. Come and visit Ann Street and that end of Providence Place right next to St Bartholomew’s Church. There is open drug dealing outside the new block of apartments on the corner as well as on the green in front of the church. Bearing in mind there is a primary school next to the church, I am amazed that this is allowed to happen regularly. As a newcomer to Brighton, I am horrified.