A YORK office worker who regularly witnesses young heroin users injecting in a city alley has criticised the police for allegedly ignoring the problem.

The woman said that people daily use Lady Peckitt's Yard, off Fossgate, to deal, inject and smoke heroin.

She claimed that, although she regularly calls the police, they either do not turn up at all or arrive an hour later, when all the users have moved on.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said that on one day this week the police came and spoke to the drug-users, some of whom were still holding needles, but officers allowed them to walk away from the scene.

But York's police operations commander said that the city's drug issue could not be solved by simply arresting drug users on the street - the cycle of abuse needed to be broken. Superintendent Alison Higgins said the force was actively targeting known drug dealers with surveillance operations.

She said: "We are also looking to the long-term to try and take the drugs out. We are working with other agencies like the Safer York Partnership and drug groups to clear up these areas.

"We have to break the cycle of use among drug addicts and convince these people that there is a better way to live their lives."

Last year the Evening Press reported how Lady Peckitt's Yard was being used as a "shooting gallery" by intravenous drug users, and was a popular resting place for rough sleepers. The office worker claimed she had seen young people, most apparently in their teens, and some with school bags, injecting heroin.

She said: "I know enough to know that possession of heroin is an offence, but they (the police) let these people walk away with needles in their hands."

The woman said that in this week's incident the police made no arrests. She said: "The police had a friendly word with them and then watched them all wander off with needles in their hands.

"When we asked them what happened they just said there was nothing they could do, it wasn't their problem, it was the council's problem."

Carole Bishop, manager of the York Drugs resource team, said she would ensure that the outreach teams made more regular visits to the area.

She said: "We are here to try and help people. I'm sure it's an area our outreach team visits to chat to the people and try and get them involved in our services.

"We also have a young persons' service, although in my experience it is rare still to have children that young using heroin.

"If people are concerned they can contact us directly (01904 647474) and we can respond that day."

Updated: 14:50 Wednesday, July 30, 2003