Police defend actions on drugs use in Gobowen
Police today insisted they are tackling drug offences on a playing field in a Shropshire village – despite claims from councillors that more must be done to curb the problem.
Sergeant Scott Barnes, who is based in Oswestry, said patrols were being carried out in Gobowen and that a caution had been issued to somebody found in possession of cannabis in the playing fields area.
He said foot patrols had also been carried out around Gobowen Pavilion and Hammonds Place.
It comes after several parish councillors called for further action on drug use and dealing on the playing fields off St Martins Road.
The calls were made at a meeting of Selattyn and Gobowen Parish Council after a member of the public and councillors themselves said they had witnessed drug dealing and drug use.
The meeting was told that when reports had been made previously a police car took up to 30 minutes to arrive and only drove on to the car park at the playing fields before leaving.
During the meeting parish councillor Paul Drury said cannabis was being smoked by drug users on the playing fields.
Parish councillor Simon Westwood Bate said he wanted more to be done, pointing out the problem had been raised with the police two months ago by councillors.
And Councillor Ian Bennett said plain clothed police officers should come to the playing fields to see the problem for themselves.
Sergeant Barnes said the action against the person found in possession of cannabis was taken as part of a normal patrol and not as a response to the councillors' comments at the meeting.
He said: "The caution we issued was a continuation of the work we have already been doing in the area.
"We use uniformed officers and community support officers to offer a highly visible presence which acts as a reassurance to the public and it also acts as a deterrent to some offending.
"We will take action and we would always urge the public to report any incidents of offending to the police or to Crimestoppers."
