Councillors have sounded the alarm over people openly “shooting up” on benches and aggressive begging in High Wycombe town centre, amid fears for vulnerable visitors.

They warned that women, older residents and other vulnerable people could be intimidated or preyed upon after dark unless action is taken.

The concerns emerged as councillors questioned whether more visitors should be encouraged into High Wycombe before problems affecting the town centre had been brought under control.

Cllr Darren Hayday described how he was stopped by aggressive beggars on at least two occasions and saw several people apparently injecting drugs during a Saturday night out.

He said: “There were at least two occasions I got stopped by beggars, quite aggressively asking for money and Rizla papers and all sorts of things.

“As I went round the corner, particularly by the church, I saw a number of people shooting up, I assume with heroin.

“It was probably about eight in the evening, so it was just starting to get dark, and they were openly doing it on the benches.”

He warned the behaviour risked deterring people from visiting High Wycombe despite the work taking place to improve its nightlife.

Cllr Hayday added: “When you’ve got someone shooting up or you’ve got someone begging quite aggressively, Wycombe town centre can seem to be a place that’s quite off-putting.

“We do need a plan from the police to deal with certain characters that do hang around and prey on individuals in the evening, particularly when it gets dark.”

He had also praised High Wycombe’s growing choice of restaurants and said the town had “great potential”.

Cllr Julia Wassell questioned whether more people should be encouraged into the town before problems involving vulnerable visitors had been addressed.

She said: “Should we be attracting people in until we’ve got to grips with the fact that vulnerable people are being exploited in the High Street?

“They’re being preyed upon, they’re being taken to the cashpoint and asked to withdraw money.”

Cllr Sarfaraz Khan Raja said women and older people could feel particularly vulnerable at night.

He said: “I feel for the ladies that are there who go at night-time. They could be easily intimidated and preyed upon.

“We’re getting old as well, and we want to go out as well.”

Cllr Trevor Snaith said councillors were arranging to meet council officers about activity around the churchyard, which he described as an ongoing problem.

Councillors agreed that police should be approached about the concerns, while members called for a plan to address them.

Steve Bowles is Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities.

He said: "We understand the concerns raised by councillors and residents and take any reports of anti-social behaviour, aggressive begging or substance misuse in the town centre very seriously.

 "High Wycombe faces some the same challenges as many other towns around the country with instances of rough sleeping, addiction and anti-social behaviour and along with the police we apply a balanced approach to tackle these.

"This work is showing really positive progress with overall crime down by 30 per cent - evidence that what we are doing with businesses, police and the community as a whole is working. Examples include enhanced CCTV, street wardens and an increased police presence focused on tackling low-level criminality.

 "It is important that these issues are viewed in the wider context of High Wycombe today - a vibrant and welcoming town with strong communities, a growing cultural and hospitality offer and with exciting development plans for the future.

 "There is still more to do, but this progress demonstrates the value of us all working together building a brighter future for the town people are proud to call home”.