A MAN has started monitoring drug deals in the street to help police get a grip on the problem.

An East Oxford resident caught the alleged deals on camera as he walked along James Street and said dealers seemed to have no regard for police or anyone else in the street.

Meanwhile, other residents claimed more and more deals were being done in the road.

One man estimated at least 10 deals were done yards from his front door every week.

And within five minutes of the Oxford Mail being in the road last week, we saw a man and a woman exchange what appeared to be pills on the street corner.

Now families fear the increase in dealing could lead to a rise in drug-related crime and called on the neighbours to call 999 if they spot suspicious activity.

Last night, police said they were aware of the problem and hoped to arrest key offenders in the new few weeks.

One resident, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, said: “It’s usually in the first half of the week, after lunch, when someone will be standing around on the street corner, clearly waiting for someone and looking a bit agitated.

“Then someone will come up from Cowley Road, on a bike or on foot, and they will quite obviously exchange a package.

“I really don’t think it can be anything else but drugs, I’m convinced of it.

“It makes me worried that this sort of stuff is happening.

“They don’t seem to have any regard for the police or anyone making a fuss.”

The man called on his neighbours to report suspicious activity to help police get a grip on the problem.

He said: “It would be good if it’s harder for them to do things that destroy them, which is why people have to report it. It’s the kindest thing to do.”

The resident said since November he had noticed between five and 10 drug deals a week, but possibly more were taking place.

He said: “Everyone in the street knows it’s happening.

“The police can’t be on every street.

“It’s up to locals to help out, they can’t do anything about it if they don’t know about it.”

The man said he feared drug-related crime, such as burglary, escalating in the area if dealing was allowed to continue.

A 47-year-old woman from the road agreed, adding: “It can be quite intimidating.

“There definitely has been drug dealing going on.

“We see taxis pull up and people hanging around talking to people in the taxis and to other people on bikes.”

Another pensioner said: “It’s always going on and it does make me feel a bit unsafe here.”

East Oxford Inspector Marc Tarbit said: “Drug dealing is a priority for the neighbourhood team and something we continually work hard to identify and prevent.

“With the support of community intelligence we have already been able to target patrols in James Street and are working towards identifying key offenders.

“We hope to soon be in a position to make some arrests.

“We have not noticed a dramatic increase in offences such as burglary which is normally associated with drug use.”

Police want to encourage residents to report suspicious activity by calling police on 08458 505505 or via the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.