Cheshire police have successfully applied for a ‘Crack House Closure Order′ at a flat in Northwich.
As part of the constabulary's drive to clamp down on drug activity and its associated crime, officers submitted the closure notice under s2 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2001 for the property on Drillfield Road at Chester Magistrates Court, which approved the order yesterday.
The court order provides that no-one is allowed into the flat for a period of three months.
Anyone who does enter is liable to arrest and up to six months′ prison or a £5,000 fine, or both.
It followed a s1 Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2001 closure notice, issued by Superintendent Paul Williams on Monday (July 7), which restricted access to the address to the occupant Casey Wakeling.
The interim order was put in place to protect the community from further harm from drug dealing and drug use linked to the address and its occupant.
Local officers have been working hard to rid the area of Water Street, Drillfield Road and Waterbank Row of drug dealers and drugs users and the associated anti-social behaviour linked to their illegal activities.
Residents from Drillfield Road have suffered from drug dealers and users using the local area as a focal point for many months.
Today′s action is intended to support the residents and send a very clear message to any community that drug dealing in any form will not be tolerated in Northwich.
Insp Paul Loughlin, of the Northwich Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said: "We would like to thank local residents who have provided intelligence and information which has made today′s action possible.
"We are currently looking at other addresses in Northwich, which information and intelligence indicates are being used for the use and supply of controlled drugs. We will use these powers again to stop the addresses being a focal point for drug crime.
"We are committed to protecting the community from drug related crime and anti-social behaviour. Any resident involved in this type of crime should be aware that we will take action against them which could ultimately leave them homeless and facing a lengthy prison sentence.
"Sgt Colligan and his team will continue to support the residents of Drillfield Road. We aim to return the area once again as a peaceful place to live."
