Residents in Leicester say they are concerned about drug taking and alcohol abuse at a hostel for the homeless. The Dawn Centre on Conduit Street, which opened in March, has an alcohol and drugs ban but some residents claim this is being overlooked.
They want the city council to pay for regular patrols in the area to protect residents and firms.
The authority said it had mechanisms in place to address the residents' concerns.
 |  We're there to help people to get off the drugs habit |
Some people living in the area say they have been spat at by users of the centre and buildings have been vandalised.
In a statement the council said the authority regularly met residents. It said the centre's biggest problem was that everyone knew it was needed but no one wanted it on their doorstep.
Managers of the centre said users signed an agreement not to take drugs or alcohol inside but realistically addicts and alcoholics could not be expected to go cold turkey.
Councillor Paul Smith said: "We're not there to punish people, we're there to help people to get off the drugs habit.
"You will occasionally find drugs paraphernalia in there, staff are aware of it and they deal with each case on an individual basis."
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