DRUGS and underage prostitution in Barton is intimidating locals who have given up calling the police, according to one resident.
Girls as young as 14 are allegedly turning to hard drugs and are selling their bodies to fund the habit.
They are said to loiter in St James Park, India Road, near Widden Primary School and around the bus station.
The gangs are said to include up to 20 people and come from outside of the Barton area.
Ian Burge from Clement Street, who has lived in the Barton and Tredworth area for 42 years, said the gangs convene every night.
He said: "Every day I see gangs on St James' Park and they're always smoking drugs. There's no children in the park in the evening and some of the women in the street refuse to go out there and walk their dogs because they feel intimidated.
"This problem has been going on for the past three years. It's ridiculous that the police haven't sorted this problem out yet.
"I've reported gangs in the park several times but the police never turned up."
Usman Bhaimia, pictured, Gloucester City councillor for Barton and Tredworth, said: "This is a big problem in the area and the gangs keep moving around from place to place. It's very disruptive, especially for families with young children.
"The area has a bad reputation and this is happening again and again. What we need in the area is permanent CCTV cameras to deter the gangs away, because having more police officers patrolling the streets is very difficult due to spending cuts."
A Gloucestershire police spokesman said: "Police take any incidents of antisocial behaviour very seriously and if reported these will
be investigated thoroughly. "Over the past two years a number of procedures have been used to help resolve issues like this including dispersal orders, confiscation of alcohol, targeted patrols and close liaison with the community."
