The picturesque East Neuk is battling an illicit drugs problem that threatens to become endemic, a politician has claimed.
Independent councillor Linda Holt said the quaint villages, popular with holidaymakers, are home to a hidden drugs issue involving a network of families and community members.
The dealing of heroin and other drugs has led to several “horrible” incidents, including a car being set on fire and nearly exploding in a residential street in Anstruther in July.
Ms Holt said the problem was rarely talked about openly as people feared giving the area a bad name.
She added however: “If we don’t draw attention to it, we won’t get anything done.”
Police say gathering enough intelligence to prosecute those involved has historically proved challenging because of the close-knit nature of communities.
Officers based in the coastal villages have been working to break down barriers and improve communication links with the public.
The approach is yielding results, with four drugs warrants executed in the last 19 months and a man charged with supply offences over an eight-month period.
Four other men were also charged for separate drugs offences.
North East Fife Chief Inspector Brian Poole said: “This has been vital in disrupting drug dealing activity in the East Neuk.”
Ms Holt has commended police and said local councillors are doing all they can to help.
“The drugs crimes are quite extensive and we know this as local members as we have to deal with the fall-out.
“Despite the work members have done with police we have got a continuing drugs problem which threatens to become endemic, as it is in other parts of Fife, because there are certain families and networks.
“We have had horrible incidents, like a car being set on fire and nearly exploding in Anstruther, and there has been a cluster of drugs deaths.
“Drug dealers and users are also often the ones who are anti-social neighbours and that has been a problem that we’re trying to deal with. There simply isn’t enough resource to get properly on top of it.”
Ms Holt said that until recently people in the area who were struggling with addiction and mental health issues had nowhere to turn.
A support group known as Oor Space has been set up in Anstruther and meets weekly.
Mr Poole said drug dealing and its effect on the community dominated local interaction with the police.
“I think it would be naïve to suggest there weren’t drug problems in all the areas.
“The problem we do have is around the quality and quantity of intelligence we require to take executive action, such as the execution of a warrant by a sheriff.
“That’s a big challenge and we need the buy-in of the community to do that. We know there are challenges there, especially with the more tight-knit communities in the East Neuk.
“Is there an argument for greater resources? Absolutely.”
Mr Poole said police in North East Fife had built up local knowledge and are aware of the problems.
“A lot of what we do will be unsighted or in the background. There are reasons for that and when we can tell you, we will.”
East Neuk councillors and senior police are planning a meeting to further discuss the issue and the approaches being taken to deal with it.
