Fearful residents have called for a greater police presence on Wallingford’s streets amid a reported rise in drug dealing and anti-social behaviour.

Some worried townsfolk believe the number of officers is inadequate while others have requested that police work later hours to combat the issue.

The calls were made at Wallingford’s annual meeting last Wednesday evening (May 31).

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The town is covered by the Didcot and Wallingford neighbourhood team, which includes a police sergeant, three officers and eight police community support officers (PCSOs) who are stretched between Wallingford, Didcot, and the surrounding villages.

Crime rates in the town are relatively low compared to other areas.

But the Wallingford Street Pastors - a team of 18 volunteers who patrol the town every Friday night in groups of three – have noticed a recent rise in drug-related and anti-social behaviour.

Chairman and Coordinator Neville Burt, 77, no longer patrols himself but has received reports from his pastors about suspicious activities.

He said: “A couple of weeks ago, some of our pastors reported a car pulling up suspiciously outside the town hall before going away again.

“You just think, ‘what are they doing this for?’

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“There are also young people who just disappear. You get a group standing around in the marketplace and suddenly a few of them will head off down to the Waitrose car park and they will be away for a few minutes before they return.”

Mr Burt believed the Bull Croft Park was a ‘hotspot’ for drug dealing, with the pastors choosing not to enter it for safety fears.

Mayor Dan Beauchamp said: “We have definitely seen a reduction in the amount of police presence in town. Those who do come into the town work really hard for the people of Wallingford and we want to see more of them.

“It definitely does feel like there has been a rise in anti-social behaviour.

“The number one thing is if you see something, report it.”

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At the annual meeting, South Oxfordshire District Councillor Katharine Keats-Rohan said: “Anti-social behaviour has risen in the last few years on the back of the Covid lockdowns. We have here an increasing problem with drug dealing and misuse of drugs.”

Police representatives were unable to attend the meeting, but instead sent a written report.

It said: “Over the year, we have been out in the community to hear your concerns. We saw many where concerned about anti-social behaviour and drug misuse.

“PCSO Sarah Jones and PCSO Marie Deacon wanted to turn this around; they worked with the wider Neighbourhood Policing Team and Problem Solving Team to combat this.

“Deploying additional officers into the area, misuse of drug warrants, closure orders and robust action though housing, this led to key people within this network having to leave the area.”

There will be a Wallingford Crime Summit at Waitrose Cafe from 6.30pm on June 15 with MP David Johnston and police and crime commissioner Matthew Barber.