Drug/drink addicts around the town centre, begging, urinating in public. General A.S.B

[Smokyk]

Does anybody else have a similar problem locally to them? I live in Catford (S.E London) and I'm honestly sick of the sight of it.

Whenever I go to my local Tesco I'm hounded by drug addicts for money. I can't sit down on a bench for 5 minutes to rest my legs without being approached (I'm 8 months pregnant)

There are a group of drinkers that sit near the Costa all day every day, spilling booze all over the place and pissing up the walls in full view of passing children (including mine) making the area smell like a urinal. There are signs saying it's a no drinking zone but they take no notice.

Yesterday we walked past one of these men openly smoking crack at the side of a shop making no effort to conceal it.

Another bloke, drunk as a skunk and in a group of several tried giving my DD (2) a high five and terrified her.

How tone deaf need you be to approach a lone pregnant woman with a toddler when you're out of your head and in a group?

I've been asked for cigarettes and verbally abused when I've said I don't smoke.

One of the well known beggers even harasses people inside cafes.

It's absolutely disgusting.

What is the answer? A petition? Or do us normal locals just have to accept it is what it is? I can't move.

I know this isn't much consolation but Piccadilly Gardens is the same.

I have seen:

A man pull down his pants and do a shit, broad daylight, middle of the pavement.

Several men passed out on the floor with paramedics / police dealing with them.

Syringes everywhere.

I try and avoid the area. It's the main interchange for the metrolink and buses, so not completely avoidable unfortunately.

@ParkheadParadise

Those addicts are someone's child/ sibling. Could very easily be your child in the future. *@Fluffypastelslippers** is spot on with her post.

I am all for having compassion on the addicted and needy. Ideally tackling these issues of anti social behaviour would lead to these people getting the help they need and deserve to recover.

However, no woman or child should put up with being abused in the street and indecent exposure.

if its not ok for Wayne Couzens and John Barrowman to wave their willies around, why should an addict get a free pass to do the same? one rule for everyone is how it should be.

And although I accept I am privileged compared to these addicts I haven't always had it so good. abused as a child right up until I left home, multiple forms of abuse, serious mental health issues which led me to do some pretty awful things, life on benefits in a housing association flat with support workers, constant hospital police and mental health services and social services involvement. Having said that, at least I got the help I needed, I think many slip through the net.

But I can see the OP's plight and understand her anguish. she is vulnerable and has needs and rights too.

its ad ificult one. more funding is certainly needed, but I don't have hope from anyone in Parl

iment to change things any time soon.

sorry, PC playing up...

that was meant to read I don't have any hope of anyone in Parliament helping sufficiently or efficiently fund drug and alcohol treatments and trauma counselling any time soon. meanwhile OP has to put up with feeling unsafe in her own town. that isn't acceptable at all.