People asked to report drugs in Oakham

Residents are being urged to call the police if they witness drugs being used or sold.

Oakham town councillor Adam Lowe has met police and crime commissioner Rupert Matthews, police sergeant Paul Kear and Rutland County Council’s community safety manager Hugh Crouch to raise his concerns about anti-social behaviour and drug-use in Cutts Close, Oakham.

Over a 12-day period, Coun Lowe collected evidence of about 50 bags of cannabis - mainly small, clear plastic bags with remnants of the drug - in Cutts Close.

“As a town councillor, I find it very frustrating and disappointing. I have residents coming up to me saying they feel too intimidated to go through the area at night.”

Coun Lowe witnessed a drug deal in May at Cutts Close and called 999 but no police officers were sent and the incident was recorded as ‘intelligence’ rather than a crime.

Since then Coun Lowe has been involved in tidying up Centenary Field and picking up litter left there, and removing logs formed in a circle to stop it from being a ‘den’.

With schools returning this week, Coun Lowe is concerned that crime numbers in the town will increase and is urging parents to check where their children are going and what they are doing. Anyone who sees any drug-related or anti-social incidents should call police on 101 to report it.

“A town councillor and a couple of residents should not have to be on patrol,” he said.

“If the number of people reporting what they see increased, this may cause police to realign their resources.”

Sgt Kear said: “We have received reports of drug and alcohol use in and around the areas of Cutts Close and the Centenary Field.

“Over the last month there have been a number of good interventions.

“We continue to ask anyone with concerns to pass information on to us so we can continue to look at where resources are best-placed.”

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