Discovery of young child at Hamilton P & tinny house referred to CYFS

Hamilton Police are crediting the actions of Hillcrest residents whose suspicions about a group lingering outside their home after midnight led to the discovery of a drug selling operation.

Sergeant Charles Burgess said officers were called about 12.30am after a man was seen lingering under a tree.

"He'd been dropped off by a car that continued on down the street with its lights off was parked on the side of the road by our staff.

"A man found outside an address was arrested in relation to possession of drugs and a nearby house searched under a warrant related to the Misuse of Drugs Act."

Police were alarmed to find a 3-year-old child in the lounge of the house which was found to contain quantities of methamphetamine and cannabis pre-packaged in bags for on sale.

A machete was also recovered in a bedroom and a man and a woman from the house were arrested and charged with possession for supply of both cannabis and methamphetamine.

"Obviously it's of concern to us that we encounter a wee child in the same location as commercial quantities of drugs and the Child Youth and Family Service have been notified about what we encountered," said Mr Burgess.