Neil Coyle MP has told Parliament that Southwark Police were  “unable or under-resourced” to tackle a problem with drug dealing and heroin use on an estate in Rotherhithe.

Speaking in a Commons debate on policing on Wednesday evening, he said that his constituents are “very concerned about the prospect of a 25 to 40 per cent further cut to resources”.

He went on to describe “the rise of the visible use and sale of class A drugs” in central London.

“In Rotherhithe in particular – at Tissington Court – residents felt that the police were either unable or under-resourced to be able to tackle regular heroin use and sale within a block,” said Mr Coyle.

“Families felt unable to send their children up and down the stairwell because of the use of heroin in that stairwell and the impact of use – including the avoiding of barrels on the stairs during the day.

“It took an incredible amount of time get that issue resolved, and a concerted effort on my part with the Rotherhithe councillors who took the issue to the police with the local tenants’ association.”