Young drug users find a perfect hideaway in church garden

Police have been alerted by concerned residents and are mounting a special campaign to counter the activities of drug-using youngsters who are vandalising the public garden.

Plastic tubes and bottles wrapped in sticky tape litter the garden in Brassey Road behind St Barnabas' Church - evidence of "bong" use - cannabis inhaling.

A bench was ripped from its mountings and moved to a secluded corner.

One Brassey Road resident told the Observer: "For the last year teenagers have been drug-taking in a concealed black spot in the gardens."

She said: "The residents of this area have made numerous complaints to the police to no avail; the matter does not seem to have been addressed.

"This garden is used by local elderly residents, who like to meet up here. It is also used by considerate dog owners who use the bin provided. Many of the dog-owners, like myself, are women.

"This is not a safe place for us to visit after dark.

"This morning, the residents of this area were horrified by the vandalism which had taken place the night before; a garden bench had been wrenched out of its concrete base and broken in the process. It was moved to the concealed black spot in the garden to face another bench.

"Between the two benches were evidence of elaborate home-made contraptions for drug use, and piles of rubbish, cigarette ends and other detritus. It was only a few weeks ago that a memorial tree was snapped in half by vandals.

"This garden has become a safe police-proof sanctuary for drug taking and, possibly, drug dealing."

Appealing for action, she said: "We, the residents, enjoy the quiet and well-maintained aspect of this area and have no wish to harbour a drug den.

"Neighbours, in the past, who have attempted to tackle the problems with the drinkers and drug-takers, have suffered repercussions and harassment. It is for this reason that we would all like to remain anonymous.

"The problems for this garden can be addressed quite easily. It needs some form of lighting of the black spot, also, the concealed garden bench needs to be relocated, and the hardcore, on which it stands to be replaced by planting.

"A CCTV camera would also be useful, as a deterrent or, possibly, to identify anti-social behaviour and its perpetrators."

PC Alex Sim of the Bexhill Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "Police are aware of it. We are working together with partnership agencies to see if we can't do something with the landscaping of the gardens to improve the situation.

"The area is now the subject of directed patrol activity which means that it has to be checked each time officers are on patrol in the area and details will be taken of anyone found there."

Cllr Deirdre Williams said: "Rother parks and gardens have done a fabulous job in clearing up the mess so quickly."