POLICE have pledged to increase patrols on an Oxford street after complaints of vandalism and drug dealing.

People living in Tern Walk, Greater Leys, said they had become prisoners in their own homes because of antisocial behaviour and the blight of open drug dealing along their road.

Last week, neighbours were woken up by a stolen car crashing into a wall in the street following a police pursuit.

A week before, a fence was kicked down and in the last year there have also been reports of assaults and thefts.

Grandmother Maureen Swatton, who lives in sheltered accommodation in the road, said: “The thing that causes it all is the phone box in the road.

“They can’t smash that now because they put unbreakable glass in it, so they are taking out their frustrations on the fence.

“It is really bad — and we have got the drug dealers. The druggies come up and use the phone box to ring for their drugs.

“They haven’t got a wall to sit on now.”

The 63-year-old added: “I wouldn’t go out after dark if someone paid me. You’re actually like a prisoner in your own home.”

Neighbour Jonathan Hastings, 41, said: “They should have more patrols. There is quite a lot of vandalism going on.

“We had the car smash and the phone box generates a lot of trouble.”

Sgt Rob Axe said he thought the issues highlighted by people in the road were a perception of crime rather than what was actually happening.

But he added: “My team and I are now aware of this and we will ensure we target our patrols in and around this area at sporadic times. We are going to tackle it head on. I will get my team out there knocking on doors — that is what we are here for.”

l A police spokesman said a 16-year-old boy had been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and theft of a motor vehicle in relation to the incident on March 2.

He has been released on bail until Monday, March 30.

Anyone with information about that incident should contact Pc Matt Jarman on 08458 505505 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

ghamilton@oxfordmail.co.uk