RESIDENTS are being becoming increasingly concerned about drug dealing and anti-social behaviour on two streets in Haydock.

The problems on Short Street and Chapel Street have been happening for the past two years with neighbours being disturbed by criminal activity in the area.

Residents have reported their concerns to the council and the police after finding needles and syringes on footpaths outside families’ homes.

English Martyrs Catholic Primary School on Piele Road backs onto the two roads with families walking to and from the site every day, passing people in the street.

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One resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “The problem has been going on for too long.

“The drug dealing attracts more anti-social behaviour and young children are seeing things that they shouldn’t be seeing at such a young age.

“Cars regularly pull up on the roads waiting for the dealers to turn up on foot or on bicycles, and it happens right outside people’s houses.

“It makes us feel unsafe in our own homes as these people can see when we’re in and when we’ve gone out and left our properties empty.”

Residents have been recording activities on CCTV following damage to cars and houses but many are too afraid to contact the police for fear of the repercussions.

St Helens community policing inspector Jon Smith said: “We have received complaints from a member of the public about anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the Chapel Street/Short Street area of Haydock and enquiries remain ongoing to identify the person or people responsible.

“Neighbourhood officers regularly carry out high visibility patrols in that area and have carried out community surveys and attempted to engage with local residents.

“We take all reports of ASB and drug dealing seriously and will work with our partners including the local authority to address the issue and where possible take action against those responsible.

“We continually carry out days of action across the whole borough as part of our ongoing commitment to reduce crime and disorder and reassure our local communities and have had success in securing closure orders on properties where there is evidence of ASB and drug dealing.

"I would encourage people to continue to come forward with information so that we can build a picture of what the issues are in a particular neighbourhood and take positive action to ensure their lives aren’t being affected by the actions of others.”