UK city ‘suffering from crackheads’ as residents rage ‘it is getting worse’
Some residents say Dewsbury town centre is looking up – but others are less convinced, taking a more pessimistic view of the state of the town centre
Locals in one UK town are fuming. “Dewsbury is a crackhead town. It’s full of crackheads and weedheads. You might think it’s improving – it’s getting worse,” one said.
The naysayers are out in force, convinced Dewsbury town centre is on a downward spiral with no signs of picking up. Yet, there’s a glimmer of hope among some locals for brighter days.
Mike, a near-ten-year resident of Dewsbury, doesn’t hold much faith in the town centre turning a corner, blaming the persistent drug issues and the ‘crackheads’ and cannabis enthusiasts he referred to. “I would not bring a rat up in this gaff,” he declared. “I don’t want to say too much.”
On a more positive note, 41 year old Benjamin Scarth reckons Dewsbury town centre is looking up. Chatting to Yorkshire Live, he said: “It’s slowly improving. It’s getting policed better and less people are drinking on the street. But you do get people robbing tools for their fix.”, reports Yorkshire Live.
Benjamin was busy slapping paint at Dewsbury Community Outreach in Daisy Hill, a Christian charity that lends a hand to the vulnerable and needy with food, clothing, and support.
Meanwhile, Dennis and Anne, both 78 and popping over from Batley, noticed some sprucing up efforts in Dewsbury town centre, mentioning it seemed ‘tidy’ with less rubbish about. However, they touched on crime driving folks away, including a mate who got attacked last year and has since legged it to Leeds.
“We don’t come out at night,” Dennis admitted.
Uh oh, looks like Alan Walton, a punk promoter with a love for ink, made his way to Dewsbury for some fresh tats at the Three Hammers Tattoo joint on Northgate. The chap had something to say about the town getting some stick in the press lately, saying it’s high time to figure out why.
“It is what it is,” he shrugged off, putting Dewsbury on the same level as any other spot up North.
Last time he popped by was a few months back and lo and behold, he’s spotted some new bits and bobs taking shape since then. “It’s a work in progress. Things are starting to be put together,” he mused, keeping shtum on the specifics.
But let’s spill the beans: we’re talking plush new flats near the train station and some fancy street upgrades by the town hall – that kind of thing.
Some locals weren’t keen on giving their names, but that didn’t stop them from spilling their guts. One bloke, working in the high street and dubbing himself a ‘concerned citizen’, didn’t hold back.
He’s fed up with scoundrels from sticky-fingered shoplifters to brazen weed puffers who are all apparently having a laugh with no one to put them in check.
“Dewsbury is obviously a work in progress and has been for a few years. It needs a lot of money spending on it by Kirklees and private landlords. A lot of shops have gone. The Arcade is going to open and they are hoping that is going to be the saviour of Dewsbury – sadly it won’t be as it needs a hell of a lot more.”
The local resident expressed his concern about the lack of police presence in the town centre. “You do see them on patrol in cars but that is no good. We need a visual presence in the town centre. Sometimes I do see police first thing on a morning but they don’t come back.”
He went on to describe the issues plaguing the area: “You get druggies, drunks and homeless fighting and shoplifting. It starts first thing. People are smoking ‘waccy baccy’ all the time – I thought it was illegal. It stinks and nothing is done.
“People take the mick because they can get away with it. I have seen people walking into Greggs, take what they want and walk out.”
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, shared an instance where he confronted individuals driving their cars on the pedestrian precinct, only to be met with verbal abuse. He lamented, “People do what they want because they know they can get away with it.”
Meanwhile, Moony, a young man of Pakistani heritage and former Yorkshire Regiment soldier, noted a change in Dewsbury upon his return after six years. “It now seems a lot quieter,” he observed.
“There are cafes, barbers, pubs, mobile phone shops and breakfast places. It’s not too bad but I don’t come in often. I have seen a rise in drug use. When I was growing up it wasn’t as open. Now it is very open. I walk along with my brother who is 11 and I know he is looking at stuff.”
West Yorkshire Police has been contacted for a response regarding the policing concerns in Dewsbury town centre.
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