The Worst Streets In Blackpool For Drug Crimes Revealed
Blackpool's streets are increasingly becoming a hot-spot for drug crimes.
The worst streets for drug crimes in Blackpool have been named by Lancashire Constabulary. In 2019, with data up until the end of August, the worst street was the Promenade, with 25 crimes, followed by Gerry Richardson Way, with 10 crimes.
2019 (up to 31st August 2019):
- Promenade – 25
- Gerry Richardson Way – 10
- Dickson Road – 6
- Central Drive – 5
- Talbot Road – 5
Drugs crimes on the worst five Blackpool streets increased from 30 to 66 annually between 2014 and 2019. The lists for 2014 to 2018 are below.
2018:
- Promenade – 19
- Bonny Street – 16
- Windmill Rise – 12
- Queen Street – 11
- Dickson Road – 8
2017:
- Bonny Street – 20
- Queen Street – 16
- Central Drive – 11
- Promenade – 9
- Talbot Road – 8
2016:
- Dickson Road – 27
- Promenade – 22
- Bonny Street – 18
- Queen Street – 13
- Talbot Road – 11
2015:
- Queen Street – 30
- Talbot Road – 18
- Promenade – 17
- Central Drive – 11
- Bonny Street – 10
2014:
- Talbot Road – 8
- Queen Street – 7
- Bispham Road – 5
- Bonny Street – less than 5
- The Strand – less than 5
The data was sourced by the media literacy charity The Student View.
John Blackledge, Blackpool Council’s Director of Community and Environmental Services, said: “As part of the Blackpool Community Safety Partnership, Blackpool Council works alongside Lancashire Police to tackle substance misuse. A number of legal powers are used to disrupt both the supply and consumption of drugs in the town.
“Neighbourhood policing teams continue to work closely with the council and are based within the same building. Their work protects vulnerable victims, in addition to tackling problem people and problem locations through the use of both criminal and civil powers – these include community protection warnings, notices, criminal behaviour orders, closure orders and civil injunctions.
“Such work is assisted by the council’s Public Health service, which provides support for people with issues related to substance misuse, such as drug dependency. A range of proactive services are provided with the help of partner organisations. We commission the Horizon Drug and Alcohol treatment service, which aims to meet the complex needs of those suffering from addiction by taking a whole system approach to addressing health inequalities. The service provides access to physical and mental healthcare, as well as support for housing and employment.”
For more information on alcohol and drugs support, see here.
The Blackpool Gazette reported in March 2020 that “a member of a drug-dealing gang that flooded Blackpool with drugs benefitted to the tune of £903,283 from his crimes.”
The local newspaper also reported on a 90% rise in young people being admitted to hospital related to substance abuse in the town over the last decade.
However, recent figures on opioid overdoses in Blackpool have shown a drop in the number of people being admitted to hospitals in the last five years.