Fed-up Calton residents have been told by cops that they have to shop a ‘gallus’ dealer to tackle the drug problem in the area.

Dozens of residents poured into the Calton Heritage and Learning Centre on London Road on Monday night to voice their concerns about a long-standing drug problem in the East End area.

The emergency meeting, which featured a panel including Police Inspector George Campbell, Thenue Housing Association’s Brian Gannon, Councillor Greg Hepburn and Calton Area Association representatives, was called following the alleged murder of 76-year-old John Baker, of Tobago Place.

The meeting also comes after the Evening Times previously reported on drug addicts who are regularly breaking into Calton closes to shoot up, while drug dealers are brazenly selling their supply on the streets.

Read more: Undercover police tackling heroin trade on Calton streets

The addicts travel from all over Glasgow and beyond to get their hit in the Calton, and many residents who live in the area say they have been forced to flee, tackle the drug users themselves or stay in their homes permanently due to the problems.

Police Inspector George Campbell, who is responsible for community police in the Calton area, however, says his officers do not get enough credible intelligence from people in the area to tackle the problem head-on.

He said: “The information that comes from this community is still quite low.

“The drug dealers in this area are gallus. They have a truly sophisticated system in place.

“They have got good at what they are doing.

“They are hiding from me but they are not hiding from you.”

He added: “In the last month, no one has told me anything about drug dealing in this area.”

Residents expressed their frustration when police insisted that despite ongoing problems, drug dealing was down in the area.

Many locals also said they had given intelligence to police officers while others say they were concerned about their own safety because they have to live in the area with many of the dealers.

Read more: Undercover police tackling heroin trade on Calton streets

Inspector Campbell told the meeting that police closing down drug dealing from one house resulted in the sale of drugs being moved to several houses which were then also raided.

He added that this has resulted in an “exclusively street based drug selling operation” which makes it harder for cops to catch the dealers.

He said: “Give us the information on everybody who is dealing drugs. Where they are doing it and how they are doing it.

“I can assure you that police have a strict way of handling information.

“If you are ultimately not willing to speak to the police, you can contact Crimestoppers.”

A man has already appeared in court charged with murdering Mr Baker

Peter Telfer, 24, allegedly stabbed and killed 76-year-old in Calton, on June 29.