Closure order secured against troubled Newcastle property

Police have secured a closure order at a trouble-plagued North Staffordshire house. This follows persistent reports of anti-social behaviour and drug dealing at a property in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Montgomery Court residents have reported drug taking, visitors to the flat showing up at the street all hours of the day and banging on doors and windows, and using bushes as a toilet. This has been used to secure the closure order which came into force on 21 March.

The order states: “A person commits an offence if they remain on or enter the premises and can be arrested. If found guilty of an offence they are liable to imprisonment and/or a fine.”

This means only people authorised by Staffordshire Police or the court can enter the property for three months. Additionally any residents will need to find alternative accommodation.

A resident living on the street who didn’t want to be named said: “It’s been going on for a while, they would come at all times of night and I couldn’t sleep because I was worrying what could happen. I’m glad the police have sorted it now, I don’t think they’ll be back”

Amanda Cummings said a resident who died earlier in the year told her what was going on. She said: “He told me they were putting needles in his bin and he said they were going to the toilet in the bushes which is why Sanctuary Housing have cut them right back.”

PC Chris Willder, from the Newcastle local policing team, says that police will be monitoring the area and people not following the order will be dealt with.

He said: “We remain committed to acting in the best interests of our communities and this includes taking action against those who continue to engage in anti-social behaviour across Staffordshire.

“This property will be policed rigidly and anybody not adhering to the order will be dealt with in accordance with the powers that this order gives.”