The United Bermuda Party is to submit a petition demanding a Police substation at crime-hit Admiralty Park, Pembroke.

Thieves stole a wallet from tourist Roxanne Coats last Monday as she lay outside the park getting treatment following a road accident. The wallet was returned, minus the cash, the following day. The UBP petition was collected before the incident, but local Opposition MP Jamahl Simmons says area residents are crying out for action to clamp down on the open drug dealing at the park.

Labour and Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton said Friday Government had no plans for a substation at the park in Pembroke, but it would assess the petition.

Mr. Simmons told The Royal Gazette: “There is open drug dealing in that park. Police are aware of it and they don't have the manpower or the political will isn't there to deal with it. We've been asking for a community beat officer, increased patrols and we've circulated a petition calling for a substation at Admiralty Park.

“The police don't have the manpower and the parks service don't have the resources to even deal with violations of the parks regulations. We have a petition of about 320 names which we will be submitting in the next few weeks.

“It is one thing a tourist being attacked but there are people living in the area having to deal with years of drug dealing and fights in the street, and enough is enough.

“When we raised this with the former Minister Terry Lister, he said it is a community problem and the community are doing fine without the assistance of the Police.

“We hope the new Minister won't have the same softly softly approach approach to crime. Mr. Horton said: “At this stage there is no plan for a substation but we will continue to respond to concerns expressed.

“And if there is a petition submitted, we'll see what it says and react appropriately. I am concerned about drug dealing anywhere.”