Drug dealing and anti-social behaviour in the Royal Borough's parks has seen Thames Valley police and the Royal Borough team up with residents in a bid to solve a growing problem.

PC Jack Ridout from the Neighbourhood Problem Solving Team said that an analysis of crime reports over 2018 had identified specific parks where anti-social behaviour and drug dealing had become a problem.

He said: “Thames Valley Police have been working in collaboration with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council to tackle criminality occurring within specific public parks in the borough.

"Analysis of crime reports over 2018 identified three public parks in Windsor needing a disproportionately high demand in police activity, everything from anti-social behaviour to drug supply offences. The three were Vansittart Skate Park, Alexandra Gardens and Clewer Recreation Ground, alongside four others in Maidenhead, which have been focussed on as part of the strategic intervention to reduce criminality in these areas."

He said that councillors, community wardens and residents' groups had all worked together to come up with solutions that had included CCTV cameras, lighting terminals, better signage and changes to the landscape to reduce 'hidden' areas.

He said: "Work is still being progressed in all the areas. However those interventions that have been put in place have already had a noticeable difference in reducing crime in the afflicted areas; crime reports have reduced by 39 per cent on average, relative to the same period last year."

He said work would continue to reduce criminal behaviour in public areas. He invited members of the public with concerns about any particular site to contact him on Jack.Ridout@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk