Colchester homeless man was stabbed over drug debt - report

The victim, a 34-year-old man, got into debt with his drug dealer and was violently attacked on the streets of Colchester as a consequence.

The shocking incident has been revealed as part of a report set to be served to Colchester Council’s crime and disorder committee when it meets on Monday.

The documents state the victim has since been safeguarded, been clean of drugs for two months and “no longer associates with any of their old associates”.

Crackdown - police officers during a raid in Winchester Road, Colchester (Image: Newsquest)

The committee is set to review the work of the Safer Colchester Partnership over the past year.

One of the partnership’s priorities was to safeguard adults and children at risk of violence and exploitation, particularly through drug lines and use.

The report states over the past year, police operations including Op Grip and Op Raptor have led to arrests, seizure of criminal cash, phones and drugs and the closure of drug lines.

To boost officers’ efforts, a sniffer dog which can detect drugs has also been deployed in the city centre on occasions throughout summer.

Watchful eye - officers have patrolled Colchester's railway stations to try to spot people being exploited (Image: Essex Police)

Essex Police said those carrying drugs in Colchester are also often found with knives.

The report reads: “Drug trafficking is perpetrated by organised criminals who bring harm to others.

“They do this through the use of violence to enforce their territory, or through the exploitation of vulnerable people - either those who use drugs or those influenced to work for them.”

Other action undertaken to protect vulnerable people within the city includes test purchasing operations led by Colchester Community Policing Team.

On the beat - police officers patrol Colchester High Street (Image: Newsquest)

During a week-long crackdown in May, the force took action on two shops in Colchester which illegally sold knives to plain clothed officers.

And a further three premises were caught out when undercover police representatives successfully purchased alcohol and vapes without being asked for identification.

Officers also worked with Colchester Institute to help reduce the use of controlled substances within its campus.