Concern caused by needle find in Strathaven garden

Dec 3 2009 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

A CONCERNED Strathaven resident has contacted the Advertiser after he found a used needle in a garden near his home.

The man, who does not wish to be named, discovered the needle, thought to have been used to inject heroin, when passing by the property with a friend on Monday afternoon.

The syringe was found in the garden of a house between the small path that leads to Cochrane Street via Glasgow Road and the Ball Green Hall.

The reader then reported the matter to the police and South Lanarkshire Council.

He explained: “We were walking through the lane at about 3pm when we found the needle. I knocked the person’s door to warn them what I found, but no-one was in at the time.

“I didn’t want to touch the syringe so I went straight to Strathaven Police Station and reported it to the council.

“However, the station was closed on Monday, as it’s only part-time I think. But I went back on Tuesday.

“They said that they couldn’t do much about it, but they informed the council’s land services who came and picked it up right away.”

The man also explained how he was alarmed when he found out children had been playing in the garden the next day.

He said: “I went back to the person’s door, and they were understandably annoyed about something like that being found in their garden.

“What worried me was that there were kids playing in the garden, and there had been some light snow fall. They had been making snowballs, so anything could’ve happened.

“I think the syringe reflects a growing problem in the area. I often see drug users in the street, and you notice them in the town centre.

“The police turn a blind eye, or don’t know about them, and the residents are too scared to stand up to them. I don’t want to see Strathaven turn into a rough area.”

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police confirmed that a report was made to Strathaven Police regarding a discarded syringe, and that they had informed the council’s environmental services who subsequently removed the item.

She added: “If people have concerns about drug use then they should contact the police immediately so we can work with our partner agencies to resolve the issue.

“Likewise, if a resident suspects someone of dealing drugs, then they should also call the police or get in contact with their local Community Police Office.

“It is a possibility that there are a few issues in Strathaven that we are not aware of, therefore we need the local community to come forward and report these crimes.”