Brighton man finds drug needles in council property

Paul Burton moved into his emergency council accommodation in May 2022 and says he found needles, possibly linked to squatters previously at the flat.

Now, after finding another needle last week, he has called on Brighton and Hove City Council to sort out an issue he described as the “last straw”.

Paul said: “I’ve been here for 13 months and keep finding these needles, I feel hopeless and helpless, no one should stand for it.

Belvedere Terrace (Image: Google Street View)

“It’s a health hazard, I was told by the people who live opposite me and the cleaners that it had been squatted in.

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“If it was my property I would have ripped the carpet out by now. I put up with it at first but now I don’t want to put with it any more.”

An image of the needle (Image: Paul Burton)

Paul said that he first noticed the needles shortly after he moved in to the flat in Belvedere Terrace in Brighton and reported it to council officers, although he says nothing came of the complaint.

After not finding more needles for months, he then spotted another in his carpet earlier this week.

Photos of the needle show it as the size of a one penny coin with what appears to be a hole in the end.

Brighton and Hove City Councillor Gill Williams, lead member for housing, said: “We are aware of claims that used drug needles have been found at a property we use for emergency housing accommodation.

“We take this and all such claims very seriously and have initiated an investigation.”