Horrified mum discovers dirty used needles while on school run

Needle with drop of bloodDirty used needles were discovered by a disgusted mum and her young daughter along a busy road while on the school run.

The woman was horrified to find the syringes as she walked her six-year-old daughter to Stanley Road Primary School.

The mum-of-four is worried drug users are injecting behind the billboard on Midland Road and a child could unintentionally prick themselves on the discarded needles.

She said: “I don’t judge anybody but when it comes down to people’s safety it’s a different story. “Children like to be adventurous and some climb up on the mud, they like investigating but they don’t see the risks involved.

“I don’t judge people but it’s how they are disposing of them that is the problem. “They are just leaving them lying around its all wrong. It’s selfish.”

She wondered whether railings could be put up to stop people from hiding behind the advertising hoardings. “It’s been going on for a long time now. “I can’t imagine what else is behind those billboards.

“I had to shout over to one of the children to tell them they need to be careful because of the needles.

“It may be that they have been piling up behind there for a long time and are now beginning to fall between the gaps.”

A spokesman for Worcester City Council said they would be sending a supervisor to the road today (Monday) to organise removing the needles.

“We would urge anyone who spots discarded needles to contact us straight away through the website worcester.gov.uk/report-it.”

Swanswell, which delivers the alcohol and drug recovery service across Worcestershire, said it patrols several sites where needles have been found.

Sian Battle-Welch, Swanswell’s service manager, said: “We offer all our clients the opportunity to dispose of needles in a safe and responsible way.

“We’ll offer them a sharps box to take with them to put needles in immediately after use.

“This stores them safely and securely until they are returned, either to our offices or via pharmacies.

I wonder if Mum went only to the local newspaper, and they contacted the Council or if she was mindful to report directly to the Local Authority. If there are regular checks on high risk areas, and as the Council provide an on-line reporting service and a telephone hotline to report needle finds, they seem to be doing all they can. It thus seems something of a shame to pillory them in the local papers.

 

This is obviously a significant health and safety matter and one of considerable concern regarding risk of infection. Members of the public act as the eyes and ears of the community and should report needle finds to the Local Authority at the earliest opportunity.

 

At Blenkharn Environmental, we have been critical of Local Authorities who fail to manage the safe and urgent retrieval of discarded drug litter (Clinical wastes in the community – Local Authority management of clinical wastes from domestic premises), but in this case Worcester City Council seem to tick all the boxes. Well done, Worcester CC.

 

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