Police have criticised residents of a market town for failing to report drug crimes out of fear that it could lower house prices.
Melbourne, south Derbyshire, has been ranked one of the best places to live in the UK and the average home sells for more than £300,000.
The town boasts an attractive Georgian marketplace surrounded by bistros, boutiques and art galleries. One of Britain’s top arts and crafts festivals is held there each September.
However, some of its 5,000 population fear property prices could drop if the area gains a reputation for illicit substance abuse. At a public meeting last Thursday, residents said they believed that homeowners had avoided reporting crimes for several years.
Sergeant Matt Ladd, of Derbyshire police’s local neighbourhood unit, told