DRUG use has become too much of a 'common problem', councillors have said.

Concerns have been raised by town councillors over the issue in the Deeside area, particularly during the lighter nights as more children will be playing outside, especially in parks.

Cllr Mike Evans, of Shotton, told the Leader that the main areas of concern for him are the playing fields on Shotton Lane.

He said: "It's rife unfortunately, it's as easy to get hold of as a box of Maltesers. At the moment, in my area in particular, it tends to get worse in the summer, when it gets warmer and they all start coming out.

"Unfortunately it's surging in our area and has been for the past 10 to 15 years. The police do complete operations with sniffer dogs but it's frustrating. These people have no regard whatsoever for anyone else, especially children.

"I want the bushes to be cut back, at the end of the day its a community field and there's too many hideaways for the low lives.

"I do feel police have increased their efforts on drugs, which is nice to see. Inspector Gareth Cust is living up to what he said he would do and fighting the war.

"At the moment they are doing a lot more, I fully support what they do. I'm anti-drugs anyway but I don't want anyone around the play areas."

Cllr Evans said he works near the Connah's Quay Docks, which is used by many people but often by the 'wrong people'.

He said: "Used needles are being found at the back of Asda, which is known as no man's land and one day a woman picked one up herself and took it home with her so no-one got hurt. But she could have been hurt herself, she thought she was doing right. This was collected by Streetscene."

Cllr Kelly Evans, of Shotton, said she had been receiving complaints from residents concerned about people taking drugs and drinking alcohol, particularly around the back of the Asda supermarket and North Street.

She said: "I wouldn't want my children to see them and I'm pretty sure the community feels the same. That land at the back of Asda needs to be put to good use so no-one can congregate on there and police need to be stepping up their patrols. It's too much of a common problem, it should never have got to be as common as it is.

"There used to be a needle box that used needles could be placed into. It's not ideal but if these people are going to take drugs then it saves members of the public having to find them."

At their monthly meeting, Connah's Quay town councillors raised concerns over drug use across their town.

They were told by Insp Cust, of the North Flintshire policing team, that a car dedicated to tackling anti-social behaviour has been launched and will target problematic hotspots.

Cllr Gill Faulkner raised her concerns around the Rock and the coastal path, with drug dealers being seen during daylight hours.

She told the Leader: "It's everywhere, all around Connah's Quay. I've had reports from a lot of people getting in touch with me as a councillor, they are concerned about drugs, particularly along the Quay House and the Rock, around the river.

"There's a concern for safety. In the summer, now its lighter outside a lot of children go along to the play area but it's not safe. I think a lot of people know now not to go down there and they tell their kids not to but it's a shame, it's a beautiful walk down there.

"You see it more in summer because more people go outside. There's a lot more police presence in the area with officers in cars and I raised it at the council meeting, so we've got to give them a chance now.

"People need to report it. It's a coastal path and heritage trail and we get a lot of cyclists down there."

Fears have also been raised about drug paraphernalia being found in one of the town's parks.

During the summer and the start of the lighter nights, Wepre Park is a common place for visitors and Cllr Ian Dunbar said he was alerted by the rangers that evidence of drug use had been found.

He said: "They found needles and evidence of laughing gas, because of the lighter days, more youngsters are coming out.

"The rangers are asking for police presence and I was pleased the inspector said they would nominate it as a hotspot. Everyone knows Wepre Park is getting to be one of the busiest places going and enough drugs were found for them to be concerned about it."

Insp Cust has previously pledged to continue the fight against the issue of County Lines, where criminals from major cities such as Liverpool and Manchester expand their drug networks into other parts of the country, such as North Wales.

The Leader has previously reported a number of operations were launched by the force in a bid to continue the fight against the issue.

On Friday officers executed a warrant and recovered a plethora of Class A, B and C drugs.

The team said on Twitter: "Saying police have 'lost the war' on drugs doesn't seem to be a reason to stop. We're pretty sure all other types of crime, from murder down to theft, have been committed throughout history, but we won't stop looking at those either, as they are against the law we uphold."

A spokesman for North Wales Police added: "We regularly execute drugs warrants, recovering drugs and bringing offenders before the courts.

"We encourage the public to provide us with information to help us target operations and we are grateful for the support we receive. In the meantime we will continue to carry out patrols and work with other agencies to tackle the issue."

Community play a key part in helping police crack down on the drug scene

TACKLING the issue of drugs remains a top priority, a police inspector says.

Inspector Gareth Cust, of the North Flintshire policing team, said they aim to carry out warrants and operations on a weekly basis in a bid to crack down on drugs and drug use.

He said this can be related to the issue of County Lines or recreational drugs.

Insp Cust told the Leader: "Information for us to conduct warrants is often based on intelligence gathered directly from members of the community or from our police offices.

"When we are satisfied regarding the quality of the intelligence and it passes the threshold for the need to act, warrants are then supported by offices of the rank of inspector. The next stage is it will be put before a magistrate to endorse and sanction.

"Sometimes it may be targeting recreational drugs like cannabis or cocaine or it can be targeting County Lines directly."

The Leader:

Insp Cust said the main issue for him is protecting vulnerable people and children.

He added: "The common denominator, whether cocaine, cannabis or County Lines, is that there's often a community issue that needs resolving or we act upon exploitation of vulnerable people.

"People say we will never stop it, no we won't, but the reason we are doing it is to protect vulnerable people, children and people being cuckooed. Drug users are victims too.

"Our modern slavery team and criminal exploitation team are merging and they will pick up the vulnerable things.

"It's one of our main priorities in the area. Whatever we do we measure against the threat, harm and risk. County Lines needs to be a multi-dimensional approach and will involve other departments and partnership agencies, it's not something we will solve alone."

A number of operations have already been carried out by the policing team in a bid to tackle the issue of drug dealing and drug use, including the targeting of a the train line.

Officers attended Shotton railway station with sniffer dogs and the objective was to search for people using the train line.

Flintshire Sorted is a service that aims to prevent substance use amongst children and young people.

Formerly the Young Person's Drug and Alcohol Team, they aim to minimise the impact on those involved, including families and the community, by providing targeted and specialist services for young people up to the age of 20.

Claire Homard, chief officer education and youth, said: "Flintshire Sorted recognise the need to target those most at risk and have least resilience to the misuse of substances and as such provide a targeted prevention programme of support to all high schools in Flintshire.

"The targeted content aims to promote healthy choices, challenge attitudes to drugs, anti-social behaviour and other risky behaviours, and strengthens protective factors.

"They provide universal delivery via awareness-raising of the risk of using substances across PSE (personal, social, education) and via outreach delivery within the community."

Members of Flintshire Council's Education and Youth Scrutiny Committee recently said society had fails its children.

This came during a debate about underage sex and alcohol consumption after meeting to debate the healthy schools and pre-schools programme.

Figures from the report showed 51 per cent of young people reported they drink alcohol. There was also concern over 13 per cent of Year 11 students reporting they got drunk for the first time at the age of 13, higher than the national average.

The report also showed 36 per cent of Year 11 students reported they were age 14 when they used cannabis for the first time and 14 per cent were age 11 or younger.

Claire Homard added: "Flintshire Sorted offer a referral-based service for more intensive work with young people whose substance misuse is having a negative impact on their lives. A range of therapeutic interventions is offered to meet the individual needs of young people and help them to make changes and lead healthier lifestyles.

"A consultation service is also available for parents and professionals who may have questions about suspected substance use in their children.

"The most commonly reported substances in use within our cohort are cannabis and alcohol. This has been fairly constant over a number of years. In addition, young people are more willing to take substances at a younger age."

Promoting healthy choices, challenging attitude to drugs

Flintshire Sorted is a service that aims to prevent substance use amongst children and young people.

Formerly the Young Person’s Drug and Alcohol Team, they aim to minimise the impact on those involved, including families and the community, by providing targeted and specialist services for young people up to the age of 20.

Claire Homard, chief officer education and youth, said: “Flintshire Sorted recognise the need to target those most at risk and have least resilience to the misuse of substances and as such provide a targeted prevention programme of support to all high schools in Flintshire.

“The targeted content aims to promote healthy choices, challenge attitudes to drugs, anti-social behaviour and other risky behaviours, and strengthens protective factors.

“They provide universal delivery via awareness-raising of the risk of using substances across PSE (personal, social, education) and via outreach delivery within the community.”

Members of Flintshire Council’s Education and Youth Scrutiny Committee recently said society had fails its children.

This came during a debate about underage sex and alcohol consumption after meeting to debate the healthy schools and pre-schools programme.

Figures from the report showed 51 per cent of young people reported they drink alcohol. There was also concern over 13 per cent of Year 11 students reporting they got drunk for the first time at the age of 13, higher than the national average.

The report also showed 36 per cent of Year 11 students reported they were age 14 when they used cannabis for the first time and 14 per cent were age 11 or younger.

Claire added: “Flintshire Sorted offer a referral-based service for more intensive work with young people whose substance misuse is having a negative impact on their lives. A range of therapeutic interventions is offered to meet the individual needs of young people and help them to make changes and lead healthier lifestyles.

“A consultation service is also available for parents and professionals who may have questions about suspected substance use in their children.

“Most commonly reported substances in use within our cohort are cannabis and alcohol. This has been fairly constant over a number of years. In addition, young people are more willing to take substances at a younger age.”