THIS shows the squalor and desperation of drug taking in Worcester city centre.

It follows our story last week in which we reported how diners in a McDonald’s restaurant watched a young woman apparently overdose on drugs in Angel Street.

But today police insist they are tackling drug crime in the city, and that the latest figures show drug-related offences have fallen.

A 29-year-old woman was taken to hospital after the suspected overdose in Angel Street last Thursday.

A witness reported seeing her lying in the street with a syringe in her arm as horrified onlookers, including children, watched from McDonald’s.

Other readers complained about the mess left in the doorway of a building in Farrier Street, near Cheshire Cheese Entry. It included syringes in plastic containers, food, clothes and shoes. But West Mercia Police say drug-related offences in Worcester have acutally fallen.

There were 647 drugs offences in Worcester city centre in 2016, a fall from 666 in 2015, In 2014 there were 617.

In total there there have been 302 drugs offences so far this year.

Superintendent Kevin Purcell, policing commander for South Worcestershire, said: “Although figures do not suggest an increase in drugs-related offences in Worcester, we are committed to protecting our communities from the harm that drugs use can cause.

“We will continue to tackle reports of drug use through robust enforcement that targets drug supply, drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour, and members of our community play an important part in this through the information they provide.”

Some Worcester News readers feel drugs problems are increasing in Worcester.

Lynda Buzza posted on our Facebook page: “Worcester has always had a drug problem. It’s just been ignored.”

Stephanie Parsons posted: “Why is everyone demonising addicts? They are humans with feelings too and with obvious problems that everyone ignores.”

If you have information or any suspicions about drugs related activity in your community, call West Mercia Police on 101 or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

For help tackling drug abuse call Swanswell on 0300 303 8200.