GROWING fears of drugdealing in parks in South Oxford have prompted a special police meeting.

Hinksey Park Football Club has complained about finding syringes on the pitches in Grandpont recreation ground off Whitehouse Road, and others told police about dealers operating in Hinksey Park.

Oxfordshire county councillor for the area John Tanner said he had heard half a dozen complaints about suspicious behaviour this year. Thames Valley Police have invited residents to a special meeting at South Oxford Community Centre in Lake Street tomorrow night.

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Hinksey Park FC chairman Jim Smith said: “We have raised concerns with police and councillors.

I think a meeting to talk about it is good, so long as there is some kind of action.

“It would be lovely to see a bigger police presence, going back to the days when you would see a bobby walking about.”

Police said the meeting was called after concerns were raised at South Oxford Neighbourhood Forum on February 4 about possible drug-dealing in the Hinksey Park area.

Force spokeswoman Charlotte Redman said: “As part of our routine engaging with community concerns we have invited, with the local council, residents to meet to discuss this.”

Mr Tanner, who also sits on Oxford City Council, and lives in South Oxford, called for more police action. He said: “We’ve had a number of reports of drug-taking in Hinksey Park. There certainly has been drug-taking and drugdealing going on in recent months which has been reported to the local councillors and police, and police have been good at arresting people and disrupting activity.

“We had some of it quite near to where I live in Sunningwell Road - the police cracked down on it here.

“It sounds as if the dealing has now moved to the local park which is unfortunate.”

“What I think is important is whenever people see or suspect drug taking or dealing they always report it to police.”

Tomorrow’s meeting is at 7pm.