Two extra police officers to be deployed to Highbury West in wake of neighbours’ drug dealing concerns

Charles Richardson

Published: 4:02 PM October 18, 2018 Updated: 8:14 PM October 15, 2020

Pictured at a Highbury West ward partnership meeting in July, at which concerns about drug dealing were also raised: Cllrs Roulin Khondoker and Andy Hull, Keith Stanger from the community safety unit, Pc Cain the dedicated ward officer, host Rev Stephen Coles, and Philippa Wooldridge, anti social behaviour manager for Partners. Picture: Polly Hancock - Credit: Archant

Two new police constables will be deployed to Highbury West next month to help tackle drug-related problems across the ward, the Gazette can reveal.

A 'warning' sign outside a crack house that was raided and shut down by police in Highbury West earlier this year. Neighbours last week said they were concerned by drug activity in the ward. - Credit: Archant

Furthermore, a new CCTV camera will be installed on the corner of Gillespie and Blackstock Road, in a hope heightened surveillance in a known drug “hotspot” will deter dealers and users from using the corner as a pickup location.

Neighbours met last week to express their concerns about a noticeable rise in drug-related incidents in the ward, particularly in the Blackstock Triangle.

Police are hopeful the reinforcements will help tackle on-the-spot crime in the ward – but people at the meeting said getting to the root of the problems should be more of a priority, with one describing the drug use in the Triangle as “prolific” and another saying there were “massive problems” with dealers on the Blackstock estate.

Talking about Gillespie Park’s Quill Street border, another person told the meeting: “Open drug-dealers are acting with impunity because they are easily able to sidestep officers patrolling the area.”