After receiving complaints about a suspected rise in the number of used needles being discarded in public places, I went with Community Wardens Gaynor Topham and recent award winner, Diane Street, on one of their clean up attempts. In the process, I found out a little more about what they do.
Picking up needles is one of the more unpleasant aspects of the job. Nevertheless, Gaynor and Diane agreed: “We don’t mind picking them up, because that way, we know that kids aren’t gonna be.”
According to the wardens, amongst the worst areas for needle dumping are the cemetery, Denholm Park, Catherine Street Park, at the back of Byron Wood School near the adventure playground and the bottom of Brunswick Road near the railway arch. Strikingly, these areas are all close to where children play, or might go exploring.
I joined them on a visit to the railway arch on Brunswick Road. In a secluded corner sheltered from sight by bushes and nettles, we found a grim scene – dozens of discarded needles, swabs, empty packets and cans. Boxes for storing used needles had also been left, rather than taken to a needle exchange centre. Diane and Gaynor agree grimly, “One day, we’re going to find someone dead here. It’s inevitable.”
“After doing their drugs, they tend to… do a poo, and then we come along to clean up the needles… That’s the worst part, stepping in that mess!”
“They don’t seem to care about being near children when they do it,” Gaynor said. “Kids do come down here. I came down here on adventures when I was a kid.” They note that children are good at reporting found needles to the wardens, and add, “But it’s sad when kids know what needles are – their innocence is lost.”
Although unsure why, Gaynor suggested the number of used needles the wardens find seems to have increased. “There’s definitely been an increase since I started in 2003 and over the summer too,” said Gaynor. “We had 1,000 in one month once, and another time, we had 600 in one go!”
“We definitely need a drugs project to come in and offer needle exchange and health advice,” said Gaynor.
Of course, the wardens do much more than just pick up needles. They patrol the streets, visiting Post Offices and schools, making people feel less vulnerable. They report anti-social behaviour, fly tipping, graffiti and visit elderly people in their homes.
