RESIDENTS have been complaining for years that there are too many drug rehabilitation centres in Boscombe.

Those who believed their concerns were not being properly listened to will feel vindicated by the figures we report today.

Chief Inspector Chris Weeks has revealed the results of research showing that there are 60 such centres in the area.

One former councillor points out that for years, people were told there were fewer than 10.

It is right that these figures have been published at last – and deeply troubling that they have not been available before.

If no one has even been counting these rehab centres, how could anyone have monitored the impact they were having on the area?

And if there is no system for registering such places, how can we be sure that they have been giving people the help they needed?