Rampant drug gangs are preying on vulnerable people and school pupils as they expand their operations in Epping Forest

The issue, which one councillor said is becoming “commonplace across the district”, was one of the main topics of discussion last night (September 15) at Essex Police’s public meeting at Epping Forest College in Borders Lane, Loughton.

Several people described witnessing regular and blatant drug deals by people apparently unafraid of arrest, with one car park in Debden described as being like a “drug supermarket”.

Police chief constable Stephen Kavanagh said one of the biggest reasons for the issue is gangs expanding along the Central line out of London, either forcing out rivals or recruiting them as dealers.

He said one of the most disturbing practices used by the gangs is known as “cuckooing”.

“Predatory drug dealers will go to someone vulnerable and then locate themselves there… selling and dealing drugs,” he said.

The vulnerable people, who often have mental health issues, see their properties turned into drug dens.

Councillor Leon Girling for Loughton Broadway said he sometimes sees dealers on bikes, on foot or in cars complete “five or six” deals an hour, and he said they also wait outside high schools in an attempt to recruit new members.

One woman living in nearby Pyrles Lane said she also saw criminals move into her area.

She said: “To see young people openly dealing drugs is actually quite shocking… it is quite sad to see the area change.

“I have been in the area for 20 years now and I have seen it change drastically.

“The smell of cannabis is unbelievable in that area.”

Although Cllr Girling praised much of the work done by the police, he slammed the 101 phone line as “rubbish” and claimed to wait an average of 42 minutes when reporting a crime for a resident.

He added that after a crime has been reported, dealers have often moved before police arrive.

He said: “By the time they get there, the persons have moved on anyway and that person who has taken the time to report the incident just gives up… even though there is a problem.”

Chief constable Kavanagh said he recognised the issues but added: “Policing is stretched in a way that it has never been stretched outside of wartime.”

Both he and police and crime commissioner Roger Hirst urged people to make use of new ways to report crime online, and they encouraged people to talk to Epping Forest Neighbourhood Watch.

He also said the force has worked with councils to effectively stop some incidents of cuckooing.