Neighbours have expressed relief after Avon and Somerset Police evicted a tenant and closed down a drugs den in Bath.
The joint operation with the social landlord, the Sovereign Housing Association, came after evidence of months of drugs use and anti-social behaviour and illegal activity at the block of flats, Inchalloch house, in Snow Hill.
Residents, who asked not to be identified, said they were often too scared to leave their flats after dark because of what was going on in the ground floor flat. They said they felt much more relaxed now that the flat had been closed.
Bath police’s anti-social behaviour manager Tim Harris said the court granted the order after the authorities proved that both heroin and crack cocaine were being used and may have been dealt from the flat.
It means that the flat will be closed for three months to everyone, including the owner. It is a criminal offence to enter after a closure order has been made, and offenders will be arrested.
Mr Harris said that anyone who is affected by a property used for drugs and the associated anti-social behaviour should contact their housing provider, if they live in rented accommodation. People can call the police on 101 and ask for help from their ASB team. They should record times and dates of incidents, and car registration numbers, that can used to compile evidence.
A Sovereign Housing spokesman said: “We would like to thank the residents of Inchalloch flats for their patience and perseverance on this matter. Despite the intimidation and threats to which they were subjected, they were able to provide information that enabled Sovereign and the police to present a robust case to achieve this outcome.“
