Residents of a Dundee street blighted by “extreme anti-social behaviour” including drugs, violence, break-ins and public defecation have resorted to installing their own CCTV.
Tenement closes in Dundonald Street have being used for injecting heroin, smoking cannabis, dumping needles and going to the toilet by up to 15 people a day for the past two years, residents say.
One man said his flat had been broken into three times and someone had threatened to stab him.
In December, the Stobswell Forum was granted £10,700 to regenerate the area, with a portion of the money to be used for door security.
This has already been installed on some closes but others have been “forgotten about”, leading to an even higher concentration of drug users there, the residents claimed.
Adam Mitchelson, 42, said: “I put arranged for a lock to be put on the door because I have a three-year-old boy, but that was taken out.
“I’ve been broken into three times and threatened to be stabbed.
“Most closes have had secure entry systems done but not ours – it’s like we’ve been forgotten about.
“Every day there are needles up the stairs and there were faeces left for three days.
“We’ve got about 15 people coming regularly, because the other closes are locked now, so they come here.
“I’ve been here two years and we’ve put up with a lot. The guy upstairs has put in CCTV.”
A female resident two closes along, who did not want to be named, said the anti-social behaviour goes on at all times of the day and night.
“The drug users take drugs and then leave again, also leaving their needles”, she said.
“All landlords were contacted by the council but nothing’s happened. We’re been left in the dark.”
Colin Clement, chairman of the Stobswell Forum, said he was supporting residents in their fight for a more peaceful life.
He explained: “We are talking extreme anti-social behaviour here.
“The installation of door entry systems takes a long time as there are procedures and safety checks to go through.
“I understand this, but in the meantime it’s horrible for the people living there.”
The problems are concentrated in the closes between number 33 and 40, with most of the flats owned by private landlords.
A Dundee City Council spokeswoman said the funding for door systems is available but landlords needed to make arrangements for installation themselves.
The spokeswoman added: “We’re continuing to offer advice and support.”
