Drug dealing running rampant near despite crackdown on public gatherings

Despite a crackdown on public gatherings, drug dealing is running rampant near North Richmond’s safe injecting room — now furious residents are demanding swift action after their pleas for help were ignored.

Heroin and ice dealing is running rampant near North Richmond’s safe injecting room despite a crackdown on public gatherings to fend off coronavirus.

Residents have told the Sunday Herald Sun there’s been a rise in drug use and peddling on the streets.

They’re demanding police action to disperse groups loitering in the area and fines for those caught flouting the law.

Pictures provided to the Sunday Herald Sun show groups of up to eight people congregating in the streets surrounding the supervised injecting facility, which has continued operating amid the pandemic.

As many as eight people are seen closely gathering together, some embracing in hugs.

“Social distancing is sadly lacking amongst the itinerant population of Richmond,” a resident said.

Residents say there’s been a rise in drug use and peddling on the streets.

Resident near the injecting room say groups are loitering in the area.

People hug outside the facility.

“Drug injection on the streets continues despite an injecting room being available 200 meters away.

“Police are too busy to help with illegal activity.

“It seems that lawless behaviour is tolerated and the community is suffering unduly from the inappropriately located injection room.”

Several residents reported phoning police but said their pleas were ignored.

People can’t gather in groups of more than two under coronavirus precautions.

Hundreds of Victorians have been fined $1600 for breaches like having dinner parties and driving to mountain biking spots to exercise.

Pictures show groups congregating in the streets surrounding the supervised injecting facility.

Mental Health Minister Martin Foley said there was no plan to shut the injecting room despite the pandemic.

“The medically supervised injecting room (MSIR) currently remains open to ensure critical resources in the public health system needed to fight coronavirus are not diverted by drug overdoses,” Mr Foley said.

“Like all health services across Victoria, North Richmond Community Health has taken proactive steps to prepare for coronavirus.

“We continue to work with health service providers, Victoria Police and others to respond to community needs in the area, including deploying additional staff outside the MSIR to assist clients in following social distancing measures and upholding the Chief Health Officer’s directions.”

Resident says their calls for help have gone unanswered

Opposition spokeswoman Emma Kealy slammed the decision.

“The residents of Richmond who are abiding by the very strict COVID-19 restrictions shouldn’t have to put up with this intolerable behaviour,’’ she said.

Reason Party leader Fiona Patten said: “The Victoria Police have a difficult job here.” “Authorities need to be enforcing their temporary powers to protect public health and safety, but those powers need to be used with some discretion, especially when you are dealing with some of the most vulnerable members of our society,’’ she said.

Closing the injecting room is not unprecedented.

It was temporarily shut for a few hours last October when two workers were charged with drug trafficking.

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