COUNCIL officials are housing drug dealers in West Howe, residents of the estate alleged during a public meeting.

Those who gathered at the Henry Brown Youth Centre for the event spoke of their concern about the problem, which they say is the result of an increasingly "transient" community.

The meeting was attended by scores of residents, as well as police officers and council officials.

One woman, who didn't want to be named by the Daily Echo, said during the evening: "We are aware of the drug situation.

"The council is housing dealers in our area. We all report it. We all do it.

"We're not disrespectful of the police - we know you do your best with minimal resources.

"We were always told the council wouldn't tolerate drug dealers in their properties, but they're everywhere.

"We all know where they are and nothing is done."

Sergeant Guy Nicholas of the West Howe Neighbourhood Policing Team said members of the public need to continue reporting crimes.

"I can go after the same drug user every week. I can nick them every single day of every single week of every month of every year," he said.

"I want to get the person supplying the user. I can only do that with [community] intelligence."

Sgt Nicholas said plain-clothes officers work in West Howe to tackle drug dealing.

"You're never going to see them," he said.

"If anything, I hope you phone up and say they're dealing drugs, because then I know they're doing the job right.

"I'm putting the issue of drugs back to the community.

"I want information from every single one of you. I want to know when, where, what car they're in, exact locations."

Speaking after the meeting, Lorraine Mealings, Bournemouth council’s deputy director of housing, said: “The council has a high concentration of its housing stock located in the West Howe area and is committed to continuing investing its resources to help proactively manage the area.

"We work very closely with other partner agencies such as the police, as well as the community, in order to do so.

"The council invests in specialist community development and estate management resources to tackle any wider community issues.

“In relation to our council housing tenants, they must adhere to the terms of their tenancy which prohibit the use of drugs and drug dealing in the property.

"If there is sufficient evidence of a breach of these terms, then the council can take legal action."

She acknowledged such situations can be "complex, particularly where a tenant is vulnerable".

"As well as considering legal action we will work with agencies and the police to deal with problems when they arise," she said.