DRUG dealing and anti-social behaviour in quiet footpaths in a popular area of Colchester mean people are scared to use them, residents have claimed.

New Town has several pathways and cut-throughs such as Kendall Folley, Camp Folley North and Artillery Barracks Folley.

But residents say these areas have become a hotbed for anti-social activity like graffiti and fly-tipping but also more serious crime such as drug dealing.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “We’ve witnessed violence, verbal abuse, drug use and human defecation in Kendall Folley, not to mention broken glass, animal waste and people’s rubbish bags being dumped.

“My teenager who uses the Folley to get to her bus stop for school doesn’t feel safe walking down here. Something needs to be done so people feel safe using it.”

New Town resident Angela Maher added: “On Sunday morning I caught a woman who was drunk trying to get into my car. This area is getting worse by the day, something needs to be done.”

Lee Scordis, Essex county councillor for Abbey division, has written to Chief Inspector Rob Huddleston asking for New Town to be a priority area.

He said: “All of these follies suffer from flytipping, graffiti, anti-social behaviour and drug-dealing.

“I have even had residents tell me they have seen drugs being used in the daytime down some of them. I’ve asked the Colchester zone team to clear the rubbish and graffiti but sadly a week later more appears.”

Mr Scordis added: “Every resident of Colchester should feel safe when using these footpaths.”

Colchester Council said it was aware of the concerns over the area.

It plans to step up zone warden patrols and add the locations to the late warden hotspot list.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "We understand the concerns of the New Town community and regularly attend both neighbourhood watch and community meetings to discuss the concerns of residents and businesses, as well as offering security and crime prevention advice.

"Officers do take action in response to these concerns and whilst our work might not always be visible as we utilise a combination of covert and overt tactics, we do carry out regular patrols in the area.

"As part of Operation Sceptre, a Force wide crackdown on violent crime, we have focused resources to address any issues of knife crime in New Town, executing a number of warrants over recent months and carrying out knife searches in local areas.

"We fully appreciate the impact of anti-social behaviour on a community, which is why tackling ASB is a priority for the force, working alongside our partners, including local authorities, housing, health, and voluntary groups to take action."

Mr Huddleston added: “Disrupting the supply of drugs in Colchester is a priority for us, as this also disrupts associated criminality such as violence and acquisitive crime.

“We know that great, valuable information lies within our communities and we need anyone who sees criminal activity or suspicious behaviour to report it to us so that we can take action.”

Crime should be reported on 999 in an emergency or on 101.