A town centre has become an 'open market' for drug dealing because of the lack of police presence, it has been claimed.

Evesham mayor Cllr Alan Booth said getting a grip on drug dealing was “top of the list of priorities” for the town but the problem was now “getting out of hand.”

West Mercia Police said it took the issue of drug dealing in Evesham “extremely seriously.”

“You can go [anywhere in the town centre] and you will see dealers every 10 or 20 yards,” mayor Cllr Booth said at the full town council meeting on Monday (October 9).

“It’s kids on scooters and bikes but it’s not the kids dealing. It’s middle-aged people doing the dealing and the kids are being used.”

Cllr John Campbell-Muir said it was the lack of officers on the street which was making the town so attractive to drug dealers.

“I read somewhere that Evesham has one of the highest areas for heroin in the county,” he said with mayor Cllr Booth adding that it “definitely used to be.”

“But if we’re not having any police presence, it’s an open market,” Cllr Campbell-Muir said.

Inspector Dave Wise from West Mercia Police said: “Evesham town centre is covered by a 24/7 patrol presence and a renewed effort has been made this year to maintain greater resilience.

“In addition, we have two safer neighbourhood officers who cover Evesham.  PC Adam Johns is the safer neighbourhood constable and he has recently been joined by Luke Harris, an experienced police community support officer with a background in retail crime.

“As a safer neighbourhood team we take the issue of drug dealing extremely seriously and understand the harm it can cause in communities. We work closely with the neighbourhood crime-fighting team as well as our colleagues in the proactive and patrol teams to regularly conduct warrants and disrupt on-street dealing.

“We conduct regular high-visibility and plain clothes patrols in the area and also carry out warrants, which have produced positive results.  We’re not always able to publicise these due to their sensitive nature, but rest assured that they are taking place.

“I would urge residents with knowledge of drug dealing to report it so that we can act on intelligence and take action against those responsible.”

But councillors' concerns about the town centre's issues with drugs were not just confined to dealing - with the mess left behind by dealers and users also 'out in the open.'

“Virtually anywhere where there’s fly-tipping, you will find drug paraphernalia," Cllr Tucker said. "It’s a constant worry for Evesham.”

“There are a lot of dirty needles among the stuff that is dumped,” Cllr Lyon added.