By Kerri-Anne Mesner
FREQUENTdrug pushing and using activity in the streets of North Sunshine has residents living in fear.
A Compton Parade resident of more than 40 years, Mr Peter Thomson, wrote a letter to Brimbank City Council, on behalf of residents in the area, asking councillors to put pressure on police to patrol the area at night for a few nights in the hope of catching some offenders.
Mr Thomson and other residents said there were three spots along Compton Parade alone where drug dealing and using was occurring, including the back of an abandoned shop that faces Suffolk Rd.
Robin Campbell-Crupi, who lived in Compton Parade for more than 30 years, said she and her parents had moved out of the suburb because of the drug problems.
“You wouldn’t let your kids out (to play on the streets),” Mrs Campbell-Crupi said.
She and other residents said drug pushing occurred during the day as well as at night.
Mr Thomson said residents had been raising drug-related issues with the Neighbourhood Watch in North Sunshine since the problems became worse about 18 months ago.
He said the Neighbourhood Watch group had invited Sunshine Police representatives to speak to residents about the issues, with one police officer telling residents North Sunshine was close to being the drug capital of the Western suburbs.
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“We understand that there are drug problems nearly everywhere, but as the police are telling us that this area is so bad, we would hope that our streets may be given a little priority for assistance, before a child suffers the tragedy of a needle injection injury,” Mr Thomson said.
The Neighbourhood Watch monthly newsletter has a “what to do” article for residents when they spot drug dealing or using in their area.
Mr Thomson said he also raised the issue with Brimbank City Council a few months ago during question time, but was only told to contact the police.
“I and a number of other residents have contacted Sunshine Police with no apparent response or result,” he said.
Mr Thomson said residents had taken down car registration details and descriptions of suspected drug dealers and users and handed their notes to police.
He said the majority of residents in the area were long-term residents, some having lived in the same house for up to 40 years.
“Residents have been regularly finding used syringes on their properties and are really getting sick of the problem,” Mr Thomson said.
“One of the worst places is a laneway running off Compton Parade, behind a group of shops on Suffolk Road.
“Deals are often done in the laneway, but also users go there to inject themselves and leave the syringes behind in the lane or on the nature strips.”
Mr Thomson said there had been drug issues in the past five to 10 years, but it was during the past 18 months drug dealing and using had become more regular since the milk bar had shut.
Palings have been ripped of the fence between the lane way and the abandoned building and the back door into the building was ajar when residents spoke with Star.
“They (drug users and sellers) have broken into the milk bar a couple of times,” Mr Thomson said.
Brimbank City Council Harvester ward councillor Miles Dymott said he would take the matter up with Sunshine Police Detective Inspector Scott Mahoney.
Det Insp Mahoney was unable for comment by the time of publication.
