An Angus woman whose eight-year-old son found drug paraphernalia on their doorstep says she feels “let down” by the authorities.
Shocking images of discarded hypodermic needles, spatters of blood, tin foil and paraphernalia for the abuse of new psychoactive substances (NPS) circulated on Facebook after the child found the items near his Arbroath home.
The boy happened upon the scene near Kim Clark’s home in Fraser Path.
But the woman said it took police nine hours to attend her property to dispose of syringes.
And she said she was later “furious” to receive a letter from Angus Council about leaving the secure entry door open weeks after it stopped working.
Ms Clark claims it took nine hours for police to respond to her call, and operators left her feeling like she was reporting “a crisp bag on the floor”.
The 38-year-old mum of three said two needles were also left behind after the initial clean-up, and a subsequent visit by environmental health officers left blood in the stairwell, which is used by the occupants of 12 flats.
“I feel like nobody cares,” she said.
“It was over nine hours before the police removed the needles and I’ve been left with an eight-year-old son who is scared to go through the door.
“The secure entry has been broken for five weeks and I got a letter saying we’ve not been using the security doors properly.”
Ms Clark, who also has two teenage children, said the authorities must act faster to help people who “work hard” and expect not to feel threatened by people taking drugs at their doors.
A council spokesman said: “We have no record this year of any reported faults with the door entry system from residents or from our officers who inspect the property regularly.
“It appears that access was gained by bursting open the indoor drying area at the time that the incident took place.
“We have worked to repair the door as a matter of urgency, and can confirm that the repair work will be completed on the 17th February.
“It is unfortunate the door entry systems are not only a common target for vandals, but are also sometimes not used in accordance with their purpose by some tenants.
“As part our action to maintain the security for tenants, a letter was issued to all tenants in the area to ask for their cooperation to use the systems in the way they are intended and to not place items to wedge open the entry doors.”
A police spokeswoman said: “Police Scotland would advise residents not to attempt to dispose of found needles themselves and encourage anyone to report such items to the local authority ACCESSLine on 08452 777 778 during working hours.”