Drug dealing at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital is on the rise despite an active PSNI security approach at the hospital.
The Belfast Trust confirmed the "worrying trend" with antisocial behaviour, including drug usage and drug dealing, increasing on the Royal Hospital's site.
In a statement the Trust said it was "concerned" about the issue and were working closely with PSNI colleagues and local community representatives. A spokesperson urged the public to be respectful of hospitals and community sites.
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It comes after Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council held a special meeting this week with the chiefs of the Belfast and South Eastern Health Trusts providing updates on anti-social behaviour on site. Deputy Mayor Ryan Carlin chaired the meeting and alluded to a previous question raised by DUP rep Jonathan Craig before an online crash of the live meeting.
The Lisburn North councillor had previously asked the Trusts last year: "With regards to the drug dealing, there is CCTV within the facility, so I'll ask an obvious question, how closely do you work with the likes of the PSNI around that. And how many prosecutions have been made."
The chamber was told in October last year by the Belfast Trust that sniffer dogs were being used by the PSNI to catch drug dealers in Emergency Departments (ED) with the illegal activity also said to be taking place throughout the hospital site "at any time".
Elected reps also heard at the time a Trust security move was being made for staff to have body worn cameras to record illegal incidents.
This week the Trust chiefs, present in chamber, had been due to respond on the live stream broadcast from Lagan Valley Island, but due to a technical problem the public stream link and councillors online link was lost for approximately two minutes.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) requested the recording from within the chamber to be made available to the media and public ahead of council minutes being ratified for general release.
In the recording released to the LDRS, South Eastern Trust director of planning, performance and informatics, Helen Moore said: "In relation to drug misuse, I have asked, the Trust is not specifically aware of any issues relating to drug activity within our sites.
"We do however, just generally for good practice have Trust security staff that operate on the Lagan Valley and Ulster site 24 hours a day.
"They have been there for a number of years. That's is not a consequence of any question to do with drug dealing, it is just generally good practice around the area and we do have patrols around the area.
"They have an excellent working relationship with the local neighbourhood policing teams who keep them appraised of prevention and detection of crime in the area and we do take cognisance for that."
At that time the chamber recording shows the Deputy Mayor acknowledged the online links had "crashed" and the meeting was paused.
There was no response made from the Belfast Trust and the lost live response from the South Eastern Trust was not repeated when the online system began broadcasting to the media and the public.
The LDRS contacted the Trusts for comment and a Belfast Trust spokesperson said: "Belfast Trust are concerned about an increase in antisocial behaviour including drug usage and drug dealing on the Royal Hospital's site.
"We are working closely with PSNI colleagues and local community representatives to address this worrying trend.
"We would ask everyone to please be respectful of your hospitals and community sites to help keep them safe places for your family and friends to attend."
The South Eastern Trust replied: "The Trust continues to record very low levels of drug related activity across all our sites. If any activity is reported, we liaise closely with the PSNI. In line with our zero tolerance approach, staff are actively encouraged to report such issues, if they occur."
The PSNI has confirmed drug and substance misuse and dealing continues to be a policing priority in west Belfast.
Chief Inspector Claire Hamilton said: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland will continue to use high visibility, targeted patrols and at times have utilised police dogs who are specially trained to detect drugs, to disrupt and arrest those involved in the sale and supply of drugs, and put them before the courts.
“We will continue to work with communities and partner agencies to reduce the threat of harmful and illegal activity. We are asking everyone for their support and co-operation in tackling this problem through the criminal justice system.
“We are also working closely with partners and relevant key stakeholders to come up with more innovative long term solutions, to help build safer communities and to protect vulnerable people with an aim to support recovery, resettlement and social inclusion for those in need of support.
"I would ask anyone with information about drug supply, drug possession or misuse to call police on 101, or report it online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport."
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