To be disturbed by all the drug dealing in my area?

[Notcontent]

I live in London, in a lovely area, but quite mixed, as most of London is. Recently I have become highly aware of how much drug dealing takes place round me and I feel rather disturbed by it. It’s not that it has a direct impact on me, but I just feel rather angry and frustrated that it’s happening, everyone knows it’s happening, and yet nothing is being done about it because the police don’t have the resources. And in the meantime all these people are making a living out of other people’s misery.

Just as an example, this morning I was walking in a street very near my house and I saw a car park and then two very dishevelled guys got in with the driver. It was clear they were buying drugs. I actually made eye contact with the dealer and had this momentary impulse to take down his registration number but firstly I would be too scared of possible implications for my safety and secondly the police would probably do nothing. There is also someone who lives in my street who sells drugs and this has been going on for years.

[GlitterDustY]

I’d be annoyed too. I moved out of the city and it happened there also. It’s everywhere.

[Buddytheelf85]

I’ve had a very similar experience to the poster above - moved out of London to a ‘naice’ town in the Home Counties - and drug dealing/drug use is even more visible here than it was in London.

You’ve every right to feel angry and frustrated by it - it’s criminal activity after all - but if it’s any consolation I think it happens everywhere and can actually be worse in rural areas.

[RosemaryRemember]

It is everywhere to a greater or lesser extent.

Some small places are overrun with it. At least London has other compensations.

Sadly due to the situation its inadvisable to get involved. Bloody dispiriting though.

[twattymctwatterson]

It's not just London

[Somuchroom]

I also am disturbed. Not by the dealing or the taking, but how the addicts have lost respect now and keep leaving their needles discarded on the floor outside my house. This is the bit I find unacceptable. Before this started happening it was easy to ignore.

[Branleuse]

it goes on everywhere. Even little villages, big towns, cities.
I think we have a lot less police presence now, which makes people more open about it

[howwudufeel]

It’s everywhere. DS gets the train into college and sees dealers with burner phones get on and off his train to make deliveries. He was also at a festival recently and he said the amount of kids who thought him and his mate were drug dealers (his mate is black) was unbelievable. He said they were constantly being approached about if they were selling. The reality is they are both decent lads who are academic and work hard. They live in a city and wear the ‘scally’ type clothes favoured by teenagers. All these kids from small towns and rural areas just made assumptions about them. It’s depressing how many kids are taking drugs these days.

[Greyhoundsaregreyt]

It is everywhere. It’s terrifying.

[Dongdingdong]

and sees dealers with burner phones get on and off his train to make deliveries

What’s a burner phone?

Agree it’s horrible OP but you did the right thing not getting involved IMO.

[stayhomeclub]

It’s everywhere, it’s visible from my back window with dealers standing around at various points throughout the day and openly exchanging drugs. This is a naice street in a small town in the north during the weekdays and on the weekend, not at night but in broad daylight. I have to pass them to walk my dog. I’ve not reported it because I don’t think anything will be done and I cba with any resulting hassle.

[howwudufeel]

A burner phone is prepaid and usually a really cheap model which can’t be traced.

[The80sweregreat]

Rumours of dealing going on in a house in our road. Lots of cars appearing then driving off very quickly , people in and out all the time.
The house has had building work on it and is being sold. Crime does pay it seems.

It's bad how many people now take drugs. Always gone on , but it's becoming normalised and that's not good. I agree that it's everywhere too as nobody can stop it happening or the police don't seem to care about softer drugs being peddled.
When people hear that political figures have taken it and got away with it too you can't help think that this doesn't help the ' just say no' cause either.
I agree that alcohol and cigs cause more deaths and is just as harmful but this argument always seems a bit of a cop out sometimes and then nobody gets anywhere!
I think it's sad.

[EmeraldShamrock]

Yanbu.
It is the trail of destruction it causes, addicts will do anything for their fix.
There was a serious epidemic of heroin in the 90's, it subdued users, it is much worse now as it is crack so psychotic while high.
Most people don't rob others at knifepoint to supply alcohol and cigarettes.

[RosemaryRemember]

Alcohol and cigarettes caused more problems historically.

The results of the latest round of mass chemical experimentation will take time to filter through.

[RosemaryRemember]

It makes it harder to be a parent.

[MyOpinionIsValid]

I live in London , and the Met are absolutely cracking down on this in my area, according their FB page. Just keep calling Crimestoppers with details, or go via FB messenger. They must love me, I'm a right snitch where drugs are concerned

[RosaWaiting]

I live in a part of London that used to be okay and now isn’t

Drug dealing didn’t initially bother me but now it is so open and the high street reeks of weed, it makes me uncomfortable. I suppose it’s the underlying thing of violence. Also people seem to take drugs with the intention of getting aggressive and starting fights, not to go clubbing and feel the love!

So I know what you mean but I wouldn’t report as I’d fear repercussions.

[BouncingBanana]

Sadly, as others have stated above, its everywhere from major cities to small villages.
Either manufacturing. selling or using it.
There is a house at the end of my street ( small semi rural village ) who grows and deals. The amount of work that has been done to the house over the last couple of years is mind blowing. Extensions, large 'summer house' type thing, landscaped gardens etc.
The police have raided him several times and confiscated property deemed as 'proceeds of crime'.
He's been jailed a couple of times, but he just carries on.
They say that crime doesn't pay, but i look at him and his wife and sometimes wonder!

[jennymanara]

Discarded needles outside your front door is not normal,. I would not like to deal with that OP.

[evespudding]

It has become more visible in my neighbourhood, central York. It is so obvious where the dealing happens, the police are aware and yet it is tolerated. The rise in anti social behaviour which must be a knock on effect from this is of concern to many in the area and some measures have been taken due to pressure from community organisations, councillors, residents, etc. Seems that weed smoking in public now commonplace too.

[Regret2019]

I'd rather have used needles somewhere very obvious rather than hidden where people might not notice them but could end up with a needle stick injury. Ideally I'd like them in a sharps bin, but second best and all that

[stucknoue]

They are dealing outside of my office window now, I frequently call the police and the local beat policeman is lovely but he can't stay here all the time, the dealers are so brazen. Actually it's mostly knock off cigarettes and vodka here but drugs are openly available here 24/7

[pippistrelle]

Do you report it, OP? I did. Repeatedly. Getting registration numbers really made a difference, and they all seem to have moved on now. Maybe to your area. In which case, sorry.

[NoBaggyPants]

20,000 less front line police officers than there were in 2010, and all many young people have to aspire to is a life of zero hours contracts and extortionate rents.

When the Police Federation raised their concerns about funding cuts they were accused by Theresa May of "crying wolf".

[CaptainButtock]

MyOpinionIsValid Be careful with this. My MIL decided that grassing up the dealers in her area was her new hobby. They clearly knew it was her (the curtain twitching probably didn’t help!) She’s had her car vandalised and her cat has ‘disappeared’.