Beleaguered Leigh Park residents 'well happy' at drugs bust where £100,000 cash seized

Long-suffering locals in Leigh Park have learnt to turn a blind eye to daily drug-dealing that has punctuated the once proud community.

Police ambushed the notorious Ringwood House in Somborne Drive, adjacent to High Lawn Way, where drug peddlers are reported to inflict their misery from.

During the raid on Monday a ‘large quantity of suspected Class A and Class B drugs’ were discovered as part of an operation targeting dealers.

Three people from Havant are now in police custody having been arrested for being concerned in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs, as well as acquiring criminal property.

Those currently detained are all from Havant and include a 20-year-old man, a 41-year-old woman and a 19-year-old female.

One resident admitted he was ‘well happy’ after hearing of the bust having stoically done his bit to deter the bare-faced criminals flouting the law in full view of those who live there.

The male, in his 50s who has lived in Havant his whole life, said: ‘The dealers live in the block and go and do their deals down by the river every night.

‘They used to do it on the street corner every day. There would be people turning up and buying drugs.

‘In the end I had a word with them and told them to stop it. Now they go down to the river instead of doing it in front of everyone but they are still dealing.

‘I’m well happy they have been busted. It shows how much dealing has been taking place if the police have caught them with £100,000 but it won’t stop them for long.’

He added: ‘Leigh Park just isn’t the same anymore. There’s no respect any more.’

Another person, who lives in Ringwood House, said: ‘There was police here all day. They were obviously watching things for a while before doing the bust.’

Front Lawn Primary School adjoins High Lawn Way, with parents concerned at hearing of the drugs bust.

Mia Payne told The News: ‘It is pretty quiet here most of the time and most of the people are lovely but you can smell cannabis coming from the block.

‘It was reassuring to have the police here.’

A short walk from Ringwood House is the nearby shopping centre Park Parade, where staff admitted they are often besieged with problems – ranging from brazen thefts, assaults and drug dealing.

‘We see the same people coming in the shop every day stealing to feed their habit,’ one said. ‘We do our best to stop them but sometimes they just say: “What are you going to do about it?” and walk out.’

Police were seen patrolling the area in a marked car.