Reports of drug offences have increased by 50% in St Peter’s and Canalside over the last five years, according to the most recent neighbourhood police ward meeting.
King Square Gardens, Duncan Street and Duncan Terrace have been named high priority areas for police due to increased drug use since August 2025. This means there will be a higher police presence in these locations.
Stickers of a silver hand with a scannable QR code which leads to an online site selling cannabis have appeared on lampposts on St Peter’s Street in recent months.
The stickers suggest the drug crimes are “organised”, said ward councillor Martin Klute at a meeting with local residents on 23 October 2025.
The stickers suggest the drug crimes are ‘organised’, said ward councillor Martin Klute
The increase in drug use has contributed to Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) crimes in the ward, according to police statistics, with St Peter’s and Canalside ranking second in Islington for the ward with highest number of ASB calls.
Between August 2024 and August 2025, an average of 46 ASB crimes were reported per month.
Jonathan Buckeridge, a resident of the Duncan Street and Duncan Terrace area said locals often have their “space invaded [by] significant numbers” of drug users sitting on doorsteps while “waiting for the dealer to arrive”.
Local police are working to address the problem through a more regular presence in hotspot areas.
The council plans to introduce metal gates to the residential block on Duncan Street, to prevent drug use outside the entrance.
Although this will be a “relatively complicated process”, Councillor Martin Klute said, “we are going to get it to happen”.
There has been some success, with a reduction of ASB in Duncan Terrace, according to police statistics shared at the meeting.
Mr Buckeridge said the “action of police and council meant [drug use] is less frequent”.
However, it was agreed at the meeting that Duncan Street, Duncan Terrace and King Square Gardens will remain police priority zones.
