TODAY we highlight the problem of drug needles being left on our streets.

We tell the story of a mother of a three-year-old girl who was understandably “shaken up and angry” after finding a used heroin needle in a public toilet next to a children’s play area on The Level.

Hundreds of such needles are left in public spaces around Brighton and Hove every year.

In 2016 more than 400 syringes were picked up by council teams – and that is a truly shocking figure.

It only goes to emphasise the true extent of this problem, a problem caused by drug use.

In Saturday’s comment we wrote about drug gangs and how they are blighting our streets.

Users leaving their needles behind is another major concern for the city and indeed in other towns and villages as well.

Villages, yes, because we all need to open our eyes and realise that drug use isn’t just happening in our big cities and towns.

It’s happening elsewhere and that does include villages.

It’s a sad but correct reflection of society, the society that we all live in.

Brighton and Hove City Council says that 97 per cent of needle waste in the toilets is being put in the medical waste bins.

It goes on to say it is committed to dealing with needles within one hour of being notified.

That is good to hear and we applaud the council for that stance.

But it isn’t about the council, it’s about how some individuals in society leave those needles around causing a potential health risk to innocent people.

And that can’t be right.

We urge everyone to be alert to this increasing problem.