Chester drug dealing hub shut down under closure order

Chester City Beat Team have secured a closure order against a disruptive property that was a hot spot for drug crime.

The Beat Team secured the three-month order against the address on Charlotte Court, Chester, on Thursday 7 November.

During the hearing at Chester Magistrates' Court, it was heard that the occupant of the property, a 59-year-old man, regularly allowed the both usage and supply of class A and class B drugs to take place inside - with him also engaging in criminality.

This frequent drug-related activity moving to and from the address, understandably, caused significant fear and concern amongst other residents living nearby.

Police Constable Fraser-Jones, of City Centre Beat, worked with residents living nearby to gather a considerable amount of evidence to progress the team's application for a full closure order against the property, benefiting the entire local community.

Now that the order has been issued, the property will be closed for a period of three months, with all doors and windows boarded up to secure it. During this timeframe, anyone who attempts to enter the address could face a fine or even a prison sentence.

Police Constable Cara-Jean Fraser-Jones, of Chester City Centre Beat Team, said:

"This was this an example of excellent community engagement between our team of officers and those who lived in the area, who have been incredibly supportive and are extremely grateful for the closure – without them we would not have secured this result that we have today.

"The occupant of this address has now been ordered to leave the property and find alternative accommodation, with all windows and doors being boarded up early February 2025. Anyone who enters the address during that time will be committing a criminal offence and could be arrested.

"If you have any concerns about illegal activity or anti-social behaviour occurring in your local community, please do not hesitate to contact your local beat team and we will do all we can to alleviate any disruptions."