Retailers want action to stop homeless people drinking and taking drugs in Colchester town centre.
At a meeting of Colchester Town Centre Forum last night, members heard how homeless people were seen drinking and taking drugs near the Baptist Church, Eld Lane.
The church has a drop-in centre for homeless people.
Iain Wicks, of the Vineyard Delicatessen, said he had seen a homeless person injecting himself.
"One of them fell off a wall and had to be taken away in an ambulance. It's got to stop immediately, because someone is going to get seriously hurt."
Mr Wicks added: "My customers come into my shop and they look out of the window and they think it is disgusting."
Town centre manager Chris Rawlinson said the problem could only be tackled by communication: "It's very unfortunate when people get themselves in a state like that, but it is a situation which needs to be tackled properly, not swept away."
Published Thursday, February 6, 2003
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