Is this worthy of a social services call? Or if not, what?

[Andoutcomethewolves]

I live in HA flat on a compound of blocks so you do obviously get some characters.

Our newest neighbour seems to be the local heroin dealer (I have actually checked - I called her via the buzzer and asked for it and she said to come right up - I have no interest in heroin so clearly didn't!)

However the addicts passed out on the floor and screaming in our hallway are getting too much. Having to step over someone comatose every time you leave the flat is too much tbh. And she is at least about 80 and seems vulnerable when I've spoken to
her. I genuinely worry for her but I don't really know what to do.

Any suggestions??

Your 80 year old neighbour sells smack? Or have I got that confused?

Police would be the obvious one

Sounds like she is a victim of cuckooing. You need to call the police.

Yes. But I don't know if she's doing it off her own back. When I've spoken to her she seems to have some quite obvious learning disabilities. Hense the social services question

Yikes. I’d be looking to move asap.

if there’s drug dealing then police as it is a criminal activity, if vulnerable they will then refer to safeguarding. She will need a capacity assessment to assess whether she does have capacity or lacks capacity

The general rule is if you’re not sure then call them. They have the training, experience and maybe additional knowledge of the situation to decide if they need to be involved.

I’d agree with this

I would ring police and adult social services safeguarding team.

I've called the police but our area is pretty full of dealers so they didn't seem that bothered.

I'm more worried about her tbh (although no more addicts on the stairs or on the gateway would be a bonus!)

I agree this sounds like a “cuckooing” scenario. That’s a police matter but I can’t work out why you are walking over comatose smack addicts or listening to them scream the place down without calling the police?!

Call social services!

She is vulnerable and being exploited. It looks like cuckooing.

Call adult social care and the police.

ETA - when you contact the police you need to specifically say she is an 80 year old woman with vulnerabilities and you are concerned that she is being exploited.

Yes and the police, every single time.

If police weren’t interested then yes call social services and specifically say you think she may have learning disabilities or similar, seems like a vulnerable person and you are worried she is a victim of “cuckooing” as above. But police should definitely have been more interested especially if given that whole picture.

I have! But it's pretty much every day. I have work to go to!

These octogenarians are having a high old time of it today aren't they

I'd never heard of cuckooing before so thank you, that does sound exactly what it is

Surely “might be” rather than “is”. Maybe she’s done it for 40 years. I assume dealers don’t retire.

I’d call social services

I would also contact the HA about the potential cukooing and the addicts comatose in your communal area. Do you also have a local PCSO? Might be worth giving them a shout.

There was an episode of ( I think) 24 hours in police custody that sounds exactly like this

Agree with this, pass it on and then they will assess

I've already spoken to the HA who were pretty crap.

Report her to the police and ha.