Magistrates have agreed to close a rented house after hearing of neighbours being subjected to months of anti-social behaviour - including crack cocaine dealing and a car being set alight on the street.
Teesside Magistrates Court yesterday (Tuesday 7 October)ordered that the property on Harlech Close, Grangetown be closed for three months.
The tenant holder, a woman aged 38, and a number of her associates thought to be involved in drug dealing at the property have been evicted.
The court was told that between 24 March and 2 September this year there had been 13 reports of serious drug dealing, including crack cocaine and heroin dealing, at the address.
Police and the council’s anti-social behaviour team also provided the magistrates with intelligence reports indicating goods were being stolen to order by residents at the address and knives and possibly guns were being held at the house.
Warrants to raid the property were made by police on three occasions with stolen property, including two cars and two bikes, recovered and a number of arrests were made.
At one point a Volkswagon car, thought to belong to one of the residents of the house, was burnt out as tensions increased in the area among suspected criminals.
Law-abiding neighbours also reported anti-social behaviour with people thought to be procuring and dealing drugs turning up at the property all through the night and early morning.
The application for the Closure Order was brought by Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council with the support of Cleveland Police and a private landlord after months of evidence gathering.
A council anti-social behaviour team report provided to magistrates said: “Largely for fear of reprisals, people (in this area) are scared to approach police or other services after witnessing serious violence – often weapons used on residents. Sadly, there are several elderly, children and law-abiding citizens who are living amongst people who use serious violence and weapons in their day-to-day lives.”
The officer also explained that a number of attempts to engage with the tenant by both the council and the landlord to improve the situation were made but with no success.
Following the Court Order, Councillor Adam Brook, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Housing and a ward councillor for Grangetown, said:
“Going to court is a last resort and only ever happens after serious attempts to improve the situation on the ground. Nonetheless, ourselves and our partners in the police and other agencies will always do what it takes to protect law-abiding citizens who deserve to live their lives in peace and free from violence. I commend all the hard work conducted by officers who have done their duty and forced this successful outcome.”
Greater Eston Neighbourhoods NPT Inspector Anthony Ford added:
“This address has been the centre of relentless antisocial behaviour, violence and drug dealing and this is something we will not tolerate.
“We welcome the closure order secured today and we were pleased to be able to assist our local authority colleagues by gathering supporting evidence, while taking enforcement action against criminality.
“We’ll continue to work with Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and housing providers - whether private or housing association - to deal with anyone who thinks they can just do as they like, with no concern for other people living nearby.
“We have restored harmony back to the street and encourage residents to report anti-social behaviour or drug dealing on your street and I want to address the minority who chose to disrupt the community and, I want to personally thank the anti-social behaviour officer for their part. To anyone choosing to engage in drug dealing or criminal activity - be assured that action will be taken, properties will be closed , and consequences will follow.”