A popular park in west Ipswich may be getting CCTV cameras soon after police have been forced to tackle anti-social behaviour, nuisance activity and class A drug use.

Ipswich Star: Alderman Road park, Ipswich - opposite Portman Road football stadium. Picture: MATT STOTTAlderman Road park, Ipswich - opposite Portman Road football stadium. Picture: MATT STOTT (Image: Archant)

Alderman Park off Sir Alf Ramsey Way has been the centre of a host of problem activities, with the west Ipswich safer neighbourhood team having been called to investigate anti-social behaviour, as well as finding evidence of Class A drug use with discarded needles.

Officers have said it is a priority for the area, but didn’t rule out installing CCTV as a further deterrent.

Inspector Kevin Horton from the west Ipswich safer neighbourhood team said: “Ipswich Borough Council regularly produce data which shows where discarded needles involved in drug use are found within the town.

“This information enables police working with partners to focus on problem areas and ultimately reduce criminality and anti-social behaviour.

“Increased, targeted police patrols are being conducted in the area of Alderman Park.

“Improvements to the park have been made such as the thinning of trees and lowering of shrubs making the park more open which discourages anti-social behaviour.

“Work is also underway with partners to explore the possibility of CCTV being made available in the area which would act as a further deterrent.”

Regular drug and weapon sweeps have been carried out as part of operation Woven in the last year, as it emerged as a hotspot for drug use and anti-social activity in Ipswich, with Jubilee Park, Alexandra Park and Holywells Park all having experienced similar issues in recent years.

After Holywells Park was found to have been an area for problems several years ago, Ipswich Borough Council park staff carried out a number of measures to curb activity, including thinning back bushes in some of the key areas and carrying out more patrols in certain areas during the day.

The park staff reported that those measures helped reduce the amount of drug taking in the area.

A borough council spokesman added: “We are aware of the latest concerns in Alderman Park and we are working alongside the police to resolve the situation.”

The police’s January newsletter said it was meeting with local partners, including the borough council’s parks team, to continue cracking down on incidents.