POLICE have pledged to clamp down on drugs problems in North Winchester.

Residents and councillors from Weeke, Fulflood, Littleton and Harestock gathered at a Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting last Tuesday at Littleton Millennium Memorial Hall.

Officers have been focusing on antisocial behaviour as a priority for those areas but said they would extend that to drugs.

PC Robin Tebb said: “Drugs is always an issue and Winchester is an affluent place so it attracts dealers from London. We do various operations to try and combat that such as surveillance.”

Residents raised concerns over drug activity in Bereweeke Avenue, Weeke, and near shops in Stockbridge Road, Fulflood.

Cllr Anne Weir, who represents Weeke on the city council, said: “A concern I have is residents reporting needles lying around St Matthew’s Field at Acorn Close.”

PC Tebb said: “If these things come up call us on 101 or call Crimestoppers. We will often add these areas to patrol lists to pay special attention to them. We had a problem at St Bartholomew’s Church in Hyde with people using drugs so we went on more patrols there and the problem went away.”

PCSO Gavin Cooper added: “We do patrol St Matthew’s Field and we have stopped individuals there and will carry on doing so.”