The regular scene in Wicklow Street, as filmed from a flat balcony

DRUG dealing in a residential street has got out of control, according to residents who say they have been let down by the police and council who “don’t want to know”.

Concerning footage from outside Derby Lodge in Wicklow Street, King’s Cross, sent to the Met in an official objection from a resident appears to show a dealer distributing drugs for cash to a group of 20 to 40 people. The “drops” happen at least twice a day every day in full view of CCTV cameras that have been set up outside the three social housing blocks.

Businesses in the area told the New Journal they had faced intimidation from teenage “go-betweens” linking the main dealers with the drug-takers. A children’s play area has become a focal point for drug-dealers after the deals – thought to be for crack and heroin – take place in full public view. Without support from the council, housing associations, politicians or the police, the group of residents are considering some form of direct action in the coming months.

One resident, who asked not to be named out of fear, said: “It is relentless. The whole street, and the neighbouring street, is affected. The children’s play area is a no go area. It has become a nightmare living here, and I don’t use that word lightly.

“They come on the e-bikes. That sound of the clacking has become so familiar here. Cars get broken into. The first thing I do in the morning is check to see if my window has been smashed.

“The dealers and the people buying the drugs are not phased by CCTV. They know nothing is going to happen. We’ve numerous CAD numbers. But the police just don’t turn up. Then we made a formal complaint and I got a call back and in a long conversation was told it’s not ‘high priority’ and there are ‘recruitment issues’.

“Camden Council isn’t interested. Keir Starmer has just been elected PM. He is supposed to be tough on crime. If he can’t clean up his own constituency. What hope does the rest of the country have? We feel like we have been left on our own. We feel like we are going to have to start policing our own neighbourhood. We don’t know what else to do.”

What goes on in the back streets away from the giant regeneration site in King’s Cross

The owner of a business said: “We are in a quiet street away from the hustle and bustle of King’s Cross. It has been escalating and escalating in the last few months. “People have had enough and something is going to happen. We have videos of the dealers. But there is no support from police. No support from the council. They don’t want to know. Why is this happening now? They have moved from somewhere else.”

Another resident, who has lived in the street for 20 years, said he had witnessed drug dealing in King’s Cross but “never on this scale”, adding: “When I moved here there were a lot of prostitutes around. Every time you would walk to Tesco you would be propositioned. But I’d just say no thank you and they would be very polite. This is different. They can be very aggressive.”

Social housing tenants are living in three blocks – run by Origin, Clarion and Camden Council – in the street where many vulnerable residents are housed, the group said. The group is calling on police and the council to sit down with residents and “form some sort of action plan”.

“The police say they want to increase patrols. We need more community engagement. More targeted operations. There needs to be a zero tolerance policy,” one of its members said.

Camden said it would be assessing what physical changes around Wicklow Street might deter anti-social behaviour as soon as possible and was putting together a taskforce which focuses on prevention and early intervention.

Community safety chief Councillor Pat Callaghan said: “Residents deserve to feel safe in their homes which is why we’re working hard to address anti-social behaviour on our estates.

“Our housing teams have been engaging with residents in this area and our community safety enforcement officers also carry out regular patrols. We do not tolerate this kind of behaviour and are working with the police to address this as quickly as possible.”

The police did not respond to our requests for comment.

We asked… but police say nothing

THE images published in the New Journal appear to illustrate a scene of exploitation and desperation, and as a newspaper we have unending empathy with those in the grip of addiction.

But it is also possible to feel for those whose lives are disrupted by chronic anti-social behaviour coming as close as their doorsteps. This week, we asked the police to respond to these residents’ concerns and their feeling of abandonment.

It’s ironic then, the Met did not respond to our messages. Our ears and pages are open for officers to explain what they will do to those feeling scared and unheard. They can’t wait all summer.