Local community fed up of drug dealers

Young children are being exposed to flagrant drug dealing in broad daylight in Deeplish. Members of the community have contacted the police several times but say nothing has been done about the problem.

Behaviour such as drug misuse, abandoned cars, fly tipping and vandalism have all been reported and residents say they are now afraid to contact the police or the local council after many failed attempts have been made.  

Residents are becoming “distressed” in their own homes due to this ongoing behaviour and have lost faith in the police and the council.

One resident said: “We don’t know why the police are so reluctant to come.”

The problem began almost four years ago and at the beginning, the community was visited by Chief Superintendent John O'Hare, his inspectors, including Inspector Shoiab Chowdary,  sergeants and PCSOs to try and address the issue.

Now, residents say they are finding it hard to even get a police officer to come to the scene.

One man said: “I rang the police to tell them I had information of drug dealing. I was told an officer would be sent to see me and this was a month ago. No one has come yet.”

Calls to Rochdale Borough Council have also been made to no avail. 

Residents are increasingly fearful of what will happen next.

One man said: “We have got to the point we don’t know who to contact any more. Over the years all sorts of people have pledged their support but nothing has changed. 

“It is usually nine to ten people who wait for cars to appear in the morning, but that can change daily."

John Taylor, Chief Inspector at Greater Manchester Police Rochdale Division and on behalf of Rochdale Safer Communities Partnership, said: “Tackling drug dealing is a priority for the Rochdale Safer Communities Partnership. We act on intelligence we receive in a variety of ways including through overt police patrols and executing drug warrants. By working with our communities in this way we are succeeding in taking drugs off our streets and have managed to secure some high profile successes, including the jailing earlier this year of Aadil Ahmed from Deeplish who was caught after a two year investigation and sentenced to eight years and three months.

“We also work closely with our colleagues in Rochdale Borough Council and other organisations to address the root causes and impact of drug taking in the community through the local drug treatment service Renaissance.“

“We appeal to communities to report suspected drug dealing anonymously to crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or to the police non-emergency number 101."