Shropshire Star

Drug taking at Wrexham bus station must be stamped out, Oswestry couple say

By Sue Austin

Published

Open drug taking at a town bus station must be clamped down on, a shocked couple have said.

Mike Bickford from Oswestry said he thought that the drug taking at Wrexham bus station was happening with impunity despite it being against the law.

Wrexham Council has said it has paid for more policing and employed security guards at the bus station.

Mr Bickford and his wife travelled from Oswestry to Wrexham by bus a few weeks ago.

"We arrived at the King Street Bus Station from Oswestry. Before we caught our second bus I decided to go to the gents," he said.

"The door was already propped open and when I walked in I was confronted by five or six men, all wearing hoods and looking very intimidating. Sat on the toilet with the door open was one man injecting himself quite openly. I decided to leave."

Mr Bickford said a short while later he saw them all leave and returned again.

"Following me in was a cleaner who had to pick up the discarded syringes out of the toilet cubicle. He was very animated and was obviously upset by what had been left behind," he said.

"I am quite aware that drug taking goes on but in this instance I was surprised that it was done so openly. I foolishly thought that this behaviour in a public place was against the law. I was obviously wrong as this group of drug users were obviously operating with impunity.

"They quite obviously did this on a regular basis and had no fear of being arrested."

Mr Bickford said the problem should be given priority.

He added: "It is quite a busy bus station and members of the travelling public should not be exposed to this behaviour."