Residents have told their local councillor they face intimidation and see anti-social behaviour on a regular basis
Cllr Joe Dunne on Clifton Road in Tuebrook(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
People living in a Liverpool street say they are scared to go out at night because of what is happening on their doorstep. Last month, Councillor Joe Dunne said he had raised concerns to Merseyside Police about “quite open” drug dealing and drug use on Clifton Road in Tuebrook.
Cllr Dunne, who represents the Tuebrook Breckside Park ward for the Liberal Party, shared a statement on Facebook from a local inspector, since seen by the ECHO, confirming that more officers have been deployed to Clifton Road and the surrounding streets following these reports.
When the ECHO visited Clifton Road this week, numerous residents said they had become used to drug use and dealing. None of the neighbours living on the street who spoke to The ECHO wanted to be identified. One woman, who has lived on Clifton Road for around four years, said: “You see them hanging around and you know what you’re waiting for.
“Don’t get me wrong, they don’t mind you and I’ve never seen any kick offs. But I wish it wasn’t happening. People have kids here and they know what’s going on.
“It happens all times of day and night. I’d say it’s getting worse. There’s a variety of people who live around here – some own their own houses, some rent it out, you get people staying and going to all different places.”
A second woman said: “I’ve been here 47 years. I don’t go out at night – I go with my daughter or my son. You see groups of men standing together. I’ve tried to go past the group of men and they just stand there, don’t let you pass and knock into you.”
A third woman added: “I have seen people gathering there. I don’t know if it’s drug dealing. Once I saw a big grey car pull up. I asked the driver, what are you doing?
A discarded bag of white powder outside a house on Clifton Road(Image: Jamie Greer/Liverpool ECHO)
“He said, I’m having a s***. It’s not nice. I didn’t report it to the police. By the time (the officers) would have come down they would have been long gone. But I don’t really know much, I stay at the back of the house.”
Two of the residents put the increase in anti-social behaviour down to the increase in Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO). This is when a property is rented out by three people or more who are not from the same household or family.
HMOs, they say, are attracting people who have little care for the area.
The second woman said: “The problem is HMOs. This used to be a road of family houses. We’re on tenterhooks to see whether the next place will be HMO. I feel ashamed when people come around now and see all the rubbish out in front of some of them.”
The third woman agreed, adding: “This used to be a nice street, now there’s a load of HMOs.”
Some people stay in rental properties on Clifton Road and the surrounding streets when they are visiting Anfield for Liverpool’s home games.
Cllr Dunne said HMOs do play a part in the issue, but things have improved in recent years thanks to Liverpool City Council introducing an article four directive covering the area.
The measure is designed to allow Liverpool City Council to control the rise of HMO conversions and protect the character of residential areas, requiring planning permission for those wanting to convert multiple homes.
Several HMOs on Clifton Road have been refused planning permission since the measure was introduced. The ECHO approached Liverpool City Council with the concerns raised about HMOs but a spokesperson declined to comment.
Clifton Road East(Image: Jamie Greer/Liverpool ECHO)
Cllr Dunne backed up many of the fears residents shared to the ECHO. He said: “Neighbours in Clifton Road have raised serious concerns with me about visible drug dealing and drug use in the area, including open dealing, people taking drugs, loitering, intimidation, and discarded paraphernalia.
“This is causing distress to families and locals in what should be a safe residential street. There are several properties on this road who either have children or grandchildren, they shouldn’t be exposed to this type of behaviour.
“From my conversations with Merseyside Police, they are positively responding with increased patrols around Clifton Road and Clifton Road East as part of their ASB hotspot programme, including high-visibility foot patrols, arrests for drugs possession and supply, and targeted enforcement.
“I have also raised this issue with Liverpool City Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Department who are monitoring this situation. I’m always available to hear from neighbours about progress or action that may need my attention.
“Some (HMOs) have been approved in the past but since the article 4 directive that was introduced in the area, many family homes people want to turn into an HMO have been refused which is positive to see.”
Inspector Kieron Hogan said: “We are committed to reducing the use of drugs on Clifton Road and the surrounding area.
“We have deployed an increased number of officers alongside other locations identified in the neighbourhood. The area has also been discussed several times in our threat and risk meetings where it is highlighted as a priority for our officers.
“In the past three months we have carried out 23 stop and searches in the area which has been extended to Lower Breck Road and Buckingham Road.
Cllr Joe Dunne has highlighted the issue(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
“There have also been two arrests in connection with drug supply during this period. One suspect (a 57-year old man from Tuebrook) was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs after officers found large amounts of cannabis and MDMA at a property in Liverpool.
“A 48-year old male from Walton was also arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs after officers searched him and found 20-30 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine. They have both been released under investigation.
“So far we have received no reports in relation to drug supply from the public but we know there is always more work to be done. I want our residents to feel reassured that we are committed to doing all we can to work with our partners to address and tackle this issue.
“If anyone has information about anyone selling or distributing drugs we would ask them to contact us so that we can continue to take positive action.”
If you are concerned about your own use of drugs or alcohol, or you are concerned about somebody else, there are support services available.
For under 19s, contact the Young People’s Drug & Alcohol Team (YPDAAT) on 01744 675605.
For adults aged 19 and over, contact Change, Grow, Live (CGL) on 01744 410752 or visit www.changegrowlive.org
If you believe drugs are being dealt in your area, you can contact contact Merseyside Police via the social media desk on X @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’.
You can also pass information via Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org