MORE used drugs syringes have been found in Worcester, this time at a retail park used by hundreds of city shoppers as police and council leaders say they will act on public concerns.

This photograph of used syringes and other drugs paraphernalia discarded amongst vegetation by the canal near Wickes at the Shrub Hill Retail Park in Worcester was supplied to campaigner Hugo Sugg.

Mr Sugg a former homeless man from the city and former prospective parliamentary candidate who stood as an independent for South Hackney and Shoreditch constituency in the last General Election, is concerned there will be deaths amongst the city's homeless population and rough sleepers unless more is done to tackle drugs.

However, a spokesman for Worcester City Council said as soon as they received reports of the syringes on Friday they were cleared away that afternoon.

Readers have raised concerns about drugs in the city after a 29-year-old woman overdosed in Angel Street, opposite McDonald's in Worcester, at around 3pm on Thursday, August 3. The incident was said by one witness to be observed by shoppers and diners, including children. Meanwhile, items connected to suspected drug use including syringes have been found at other city locations this month, including in a doorway near Farrier Street and under a bridge over City Walls Road, near St Martin's Gate Carpark.

Photographs were published in the Worcester News showing used syringes on the steps leading up to the bridge which is regularly used by the public.

Mr Sugg, formerly of Worcester, said: “Drugs paraphernalia is still being found in Worcester. The problem isn’t being solved. More needs to be done and there need to be more patrols and those who are carrying out patrols need to speak to other agencies. A young person or child could pick up one of those needles. Why isn’t there a safe place where drug users can go? That’s not about condoning drug use. The down side of going out and cracking down on it means the drug users are going to find other places to do it. They are going to end up overdosing and being left to rot."

A spokesman for the Cathedral Safer Neighbourhood Team, parts of West Mercia Police, said they were not aware of any such reports at present.

However, a spokesman added: "If people are concerned about drug use in the area or discarded paraphernalia, we would urge them to contact police on 101. Our officers would then work with Worcester City Council to safely remove them as soon as possible.

"Regular patrols are undertaken with the area to address any anti-social behaviour."

A spokesman for Worcester City Council said: "City council staff have this afternoon (Friday) safely cleared away and disposed of some discarded needles that had been left by the canal footpath close to the Wickes premises.

"If anyone spots any discarded sharps we would urge them to contact Worcester City Council as soon as possible on 01905 722233 so that we can arrange for the safe disposal of the material."

Despite concerns raised by the public figures provided by West Mercia Police suggest drug-related crime has fallen in the city.

For example, there were 647 drugs offences in Worcester city centre in 2016, a fall from 666 in 2015. In 2014 there were 617 recorded drugs offences.