Police target Walton on Thames to talk drugs

Police have been out and about in Walton on Thames highlighting the dangers of drug and alcohol misuse.

The 'Drug and Alcohol Awareness' event was held in Thames Mead, which is off Terrace Road, late last month.

The event was organised by the North Walton Safer Neighbourhood Team, with support from partner agencies including Elmbridge Borough Council and the Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT). Officers decided to organise the day of action following a recent North Walton neighbourhood panel meeting where residents voted drug awareness and drug-related anti-social behaviour as a priority issue for the area.

The day of action aimed to raise awareness of drug and alcohol misuse, the issues around it, and the multi-agency help available to drug and alcohol users. Visitors had the opportunity to speak to officers and representatives from the DAAT and borough council about any issues or concerns they had and they were offered advice and information to help them tackle any issues around substance misuse.

Elmbridge Neighbourhood for Surrey Police Sergeant Charlotte Chambers said: "The awareness event went very well and I was pleased so many residents took the time to come and speak to us throughout the day.

"We gained a lot of useful and very positive feedback from residents and the Elmbridge neighbourhood teams will continue to take every opportunity to increase the knowledge and understanding people have about the dangers of misusing drugs and alcohol.

"This event was organised as a direct result of the responses we had from residents identifying alcohol and drug awareness as a priority issue for the area.

"I hope the positive action taken by Surrey Police and partner agencies demonstrates that we take the concerns of residents very seriously and will use all available resources to address the issued raised by members of the community."