Closure order puts a stop to drug dealing and antisocial behaviour, Kingskerswell

A closure order has been put in place on a property in Newton Abbot to disrupt antisocial behaviour (ASB) and suspected drug dealing taking place at the address.

On Wednesday 23 April, a full closure order was served at an address on Newton Road in Kingskerswell, making it an offence for anyone to enter the address for a three-month period.

Police had received reports of suspected drug dealing and drug taking happening across all hours of the day at the address, as well as instances of violence and verbal abuse towards local residents. There were also reports of unsecured dogs running out of the address onto the road, and vehicles linked to the address causing access issues for other residents.

Machaela O’Brien, ASB Legal Advisor for Devon & Cornwall Police, said: “Obtaining a closure order is never our first course of action. We will always work alongside tenants to tackle ASB in the first instance.

“However, in this case, it was clear that there was no consideration for the impact of their behaviour on neighbouring properties. The ASB issues were taking a real toll on people’s wellbeing and quality of life.

“Behaviour like this will not be tolerated - no one should be made to feel unsafe or intimidated in the area they live. So, it was important for us to take action to safeguard residents from further harm.”

The tenant has been signposted to necessary support services while the closure order is in place. Whilst this is a temporary order, police will continue to work alongside the tenant to ensure future crime prevention.

Enquiries into the suspected drug offences is ongoing.

If you’re experiencing similar problems or are experiencing any behaviour that causes you distress or has a negative impact on the safety of the community, please report it to the police.

You can report directly on the Devon & Cornwall Police website. If a crime is taking place, call 999.

If you have been affected by crime, please visit victimcare-dc.org to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system. You can also call Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.