POLICE have reassured residents of a Brentford estate where a man was shot dead that the incident was a 'one-off'.

People on the Haverfield Estate remain convinced the machine-gun attack, which left 37-year-old Dean Tulley dead and another man seriously injured, was a symptom of on-going drug problems.

Supt Simon Phipps, of Hounslow Police, said he had taken on board their concerns but stressed his officers were doing all they could to rid the area of crime.

"We are aware there are concerns about the use of drugs and drug-related criminal behaviour in the area," he said.

"We can reassure residents that local police, Hounslow Homes and Hounslow Council are doing everything possible to rid the estate of crime, and drug crime in particular."

Although residents were disturbed by on-going drug dealing at the estate on Green Dragon Lane, the murder on January 25 marked a worrying escalation in violent crime.

"We don't know the motive yet but we haven't had any drug-related gun crime on the estate before," said Sgt Nathan Fane, who heads Brentford's Safer Neighbourhoods Team.

"Residents have been telling us that they were aware that there was a drug problem on the estate but they're still really surprised about this shooting."

He explained that while tackling drug crime had been a key priority for the team since its creation in April 2006 there had been no major incidents or indications of impending turf war between dealers.

"There had been some suggestion that dealers from another area were moving into the estate but we had no reason to expect anything serious," he added.

"The estate itself is not unsafe. It's quite clean and well maintained. We're viewing this shooting as a one-off incident."

Since April last year the team has arrested 49 people for drug offences and closed a crack house where people were using and selling drugs.

Mr Tulley died at Fraser House after two men entered the building just after 9pm and opened fire. Another man, who was seriously injured, was discharged from hospital earlier this week.

Officers say they are still keeping an open mind about the motive for the killing.

Supt Phipps urged any residents with information about incidents on the estate to contact the Safer Neighourhoods Team.

Anyone who knows anything about the murder should call the incident room at Sutton police station on 020 8721 4165 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on

0800 555 111.