Addicts shooting up outside Richmond primary school

Addicts have been caught shooting up outside a Richmond primary school in the latest act of brazen behaviour near the suburbs’s injecting room. Worried teachers were forced to scan the area for discarded syringes.

Drug users shooting up on Lennox St, North Richmond. Picture: Supplied

Drug addicts have been caught on camera, openly shooting up outside a Richmond primary school and on the street near a popular pub.

The brazen behaviour occurred in the early afternoon on Lennox St, North Richmond, and near the medically supervised injection room based at the neighbourhood health centre.

Residents have reported escalating violence and offensive behaviour in the their community in recent months.

Two users were seen shooting up on benches outside the front fence of the Richmond West Primary School, prompting staff to later inspect the site for discarded needles.

Drug users outside Richmond West Primary School.

A spokesman for the Department of Education said the safety and wellbeing of children, staff and school communities was always the department’s highest priority.

“Richmond West Primary School has very clear safety supports and procedures that take into account the local context,’’ he said.

“Such arrangements are under constant review at Richmond West Primary School.’’

And earlier, two users sat on the Lennox St footpath near the All Nations Hotel, with syringes and other drug paraphernalia.

Residents from both the housing estate and privately owned homes claim that street violence and damage to homes had steadily increased since the supervised injection room opened in July last year.

In May, a Police Association survey of uniform officers and detectives in the area found 80 per cent thought crime had increased since the centre opened. Officers also told the survey of a jump in drug use.

Richmond West Primary School staff inspecting the site for needles.

The increasing drug presence is believed to have been caused by the so-called “honey-pot” effect, as the suburb attracted more dealers and users.

The injection room claims to have saved hundreds of lives and supervised thousands of injections. An average of three overdoses a day — had been managed.

The injection room was expanded earlier this month from eight to 14 booths, some of which are doubles to accommodate 20 people.

The room is now also open an extra three hours a day.

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