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??

Yes. I did. I don't know why so many people are questioning this situation? For context I was (and am) exhausted after a night of some intoxicated randomer screaming outside my door for several hours.

This all seems very odd.

An 80 year old woman with 'obvious' learning difficulties is not your 'local heroin dealer'. Common sense tells you that.

A more likely scenario (assuming you are correct that an 80 year old, mentally disabled person's house is being used to sell drugs) is that she has been persuaded/manipulated/forced by an actual dealer into letting them use her property. This is often known as 'Cuckooing', and you should report it to the police/LA if you feel safe to do so.

You will need to tell them that you suspect Cuckooing, rather than simply 'Someone is selling drugs'. Mention the vulnerable person. Gather any evidence you can, safely.

I find the 'addicts passed out on the floor/screaming' thing odd too. Even the thickest dealers are going to move along anyone screaming outside of their gaff pretty quickly, and I've not met many heroin addicts who score and shoot up/pass out in a public corridor right outside their dealer's place.

<buzzes door>

"Hi, it's me, a random person. I'd like to buy some heroin please."

"Sure! Come on up!"

😆😆

"A more likely scenario ...... is that she has been persuaded/manipulated/forced by an actual dealer into letting them use her property. This is often known as 'Cuckooing'"

Is that so now?

@Velmy You are the umpteenth person to explain cuckooing to the OP, yet you write as though you were the only one who knew.

Well this is why I'm asking for advice! She's not even in our block (next block over, there's three) so I have no idea why this man was on the landing screaming for drugs/drink/whatever for several fucking hours!

It's not just me being an arse, my absolutely lovely neighbour is an elderly man and really shouldn't have to deal with this at 2am!

I'm very capable of reading 🤣

I think this is what this situation is and I will call the police again in the morning

Ha, yes. That is essentially the conversation we had. 'Hi, my friend said you might be able to do two browns and a white?'

'No problem I'll buzz you in'

I recorded it for sending on to the police.

I tend to find that - especially when it comes to matters of law and drugs/criminality - MumsNet is rife with 'advice' from people who undoubtedly mean well, but who are either ill-informed, lack any actual expertise/experience or simply wish to be the first/loudest person to regurgitate something they've seen on TV/the internet as fact.

I'm usually very much a 'Read the thread' person, but on threads like these there's often no point 🤷🏻‍♂️

Agreed.

That's actually fair enough.

This might be worth reading - it's from my local area but gives advice that might be relevant
https://www.oxford.gov.uk/community-safety/cuckooing

Police and social services she’s obviously vulnerable. It does sound like cuckooing when drug dealers take over vulnerable people’s home.

Oh this is sad, yes please get her help but be careful!!

It may not be cuckooing. The big dealer on our patch is female and mid 70s, with her whole family behind her running the business. I taught her grandchildren, so have spoken with her many times on pick up. She presents quite interestingly on first meeting-once you get to know her, you see her understanding of life and her ballsyness.

Either way, I know what you mean @Andoutcomethewolves when you say the police aren't bothered. In our case, the police are scared of the family, and don't want to get involved or risk their own families.

All the best trying to get this sorted.

Police are open 24/7. Call them any time.

Keep reporting to the police. Report every time you witness anything. They can't do anything off a few calls. They need numerous logs before they can do anything unfortunately. Just do it online each time. Maybe ring 101 to get them up to speed on everything then each time do a 101 log. If she is being cuckoo'd then they should put a partial closure order in to protect her. Like I say you will have to log it constantly for a bit though.

Yeah, every time you see addicts passed out in the hallway/ communal areas call the police who will remove them.

Just call the police.

She could well be being cuckooed. She's probably a drug user and the dealers have taken over her house as she can't afford to pay for her habit. It's really sad.

You say she's about 80? I mean drug users can age quite rapidly so she may not be that old. But she still sounds vulnerable. I guess social services. But ultimately it's the police you need really as it's clearly something illegal.

Phone social Work to explain sounds like she is a vulnerable adult ,then I would be phoning the police and housing association regularly tbh and getting details about who to email .Phone calls can get lost but an email trail is much harder to ignore .How horrible for everyone else

Anonymously report online/call all of these:
Police
Adult social care
Children’s social care - presumably kids live there
Housing association/council housing team

People calling it fake - I’m so happy you’re privileged enough to have never lived in places like this! I spent 5 years in a HA block in Glasgow next door to a dealer. Witnessed him full force punch his ex in the face on the landing (through the peephole), had police barge down his door on multiple occasions, people were regularly passed out in the corridors, I had stuff put through my letterbox and once I came back from the school run and found a man passed out in my flat, right in my children’s bedroom doorway. The door was unlocked because my DH and youngest were home and in the living room at the time. Unrelated to the dealer neighbour, another neighbour on our landing had his throat slashed and bled to death and I witnessed someone jump to their death from the block while making my way to the shops.

Blocks like this are another world. Some people have no idea but it’s just normal and almost expected. It’s a nightmare and no one seems to do anything. Police never managed to put this guy away but were constantly raiding his house and HA couldn’t evict him despite all the complaints. He also had a dog the whole time, which was against the agreement as it was a tower block. Untouchable.

All I can say is I’m glad I moved. OP, do anything you can because you can’t live like this. I hope it makes a difference or if nothing else you can get a move soon enough too.