Shock as cache of needles found dumped next to primary school

A Dundee support worker was shocked to discover more than a dozen used drug needles left dumped beside a city school.

Taylor Mcmurchie, 21, said that she was walking to work in St Mary’s close to Craigowl Primary School when she made the horrifying discovery on Thursday lunchtime.

The needles were cleared by the council, but Taylor said she was still concerned at what might have happened had she not flagged it.

Taylor, a community care and support worker, said: “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

“There were so many needles on the ground along with an empty naloxone packet.

“There were other drugs paraphernalia as well. What was very concerning was that this was right beside Craigowl Primary School.

“Any children walking to school could easily have just picked this stuff up. There were also dog walkers and other people walking past.

“This could have been so dangerous. I dread to think what might have happened if any children had touched the needles.”

Fearing the worst, Taylor called the council who arrived swiftly to remove the items and clear the scene up.

She added: “I don’t have a bad word to say about how the council responded to this situation.

“However to find things like this just lying about our streets needs to stop.”

A spokesman for Dundee City Council said: “The Dundee Community Safety Partnership has a drugs-related litter group to deal with the problem of used needles and other drugs waste inappropriately disposed of in the city.”