No drugs, but police tackle anti-social behaviour in Cockfield

CLAIMS of drug dealing among young people in Cockfield are unfounded, according to police.
However, officers have clamped down on anti-social behaviour problems in the village.
Cockfield Parish Council was told groups of up to 40 youngsters from the village and surrounding areas had been “running riot” on Friday nights.
Cllr Neville Singleton highlighted two specific incidents which he said were a cause for concern.
One involved young people receiving items from a bag out of sight of newly-installed CCTV cameras at the Pauline Charlton Sports Pavilion.
As a result, he said the angle of the cameras was to be adjusted to ensure the covered all areas outside the pavilion.
The other involved a gathering of youngster coming in from Watery Lane.
“Police came on the scene and they ran away and dispersed,” said Cllr Singleton.
“They hid a bag in a fence and after they had all gone, one of them came back and picked it up. They are drug dealing,” he said.
However, PC Dave Williamson discounted Cllr Singleton’s claims and said no drugs related paraphernalia had been recovered.
“We believe that some of the concerns about items being hidden and retrieved involved alcohol and some underage drinking,” he added.
Cllr Singleton said the young people had also left piles of rubbish strewn around the village centre.
PC Williamson said officers had taken a number of measures to address the issue of large groups of young people meeting up in Cockfield.
“Over the last month the neighbourhood police team identified that groups of youths were causing anti-social behaviour and annoyance in the village,” he said.
“In the process of responding to this, officers dealt with two linked shoplifting offences and a minor public order incident.
“A number of young people were identified and in addition to letters and visits to parents, some work has been done in schools to warn and advise individuals.
“Patrols have continued and reports of problems have declined.”
PC Williamson added: “We will link with the parish council and should there be a return to incidents we will consider raising the matter as a Pact priority.”