Closure order granted for troubled property in Ellesmere Port

Officers from Ellesmere Port have secured a closure order following reports of drug dealing, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage at a property in the town.

The closure order for the address on Hyde Close was granted at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 13 July.

The order, which will run for three months, is a result of officers responding to the concerns of residents regarding the behaviour of a man who is well-known to local police, whose activity included anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and drug related activity.

The occupant, a 53-year-old man, and his associates who frequented the property, created a sense of panic amongst the community, many of whom were hesitant to contact the police through fear of a response from him.

However, officers from Ellesmere Port worked with ForHousing, the local housing association, and encouraged local residents to come forward and provide evidence against their disruptive neighbour.

Following the securing of the order, the 53-year-old has been ordered to leave the address and find alternative accommodation, with all windows and doors being boarded up for a period of three months.

Anyone who enters the address during that time will be committing a criminal offence and could be arrested.

Police Constable Lucy Hawkins of Ellesmere Port LPU said:

"This is second closure order we have secured against this property, and its occupant, and I want to thank the residents of this community for their continued support – without them we would not have secured the result that we have.

“I hope that this closure will serve as a warning to anyone who chooses to behave in this way can lose their homes as a consequence of their actions.

“I want to urge anyone with concerns about drug-related crime, anti-social behaviour or any other criminality in their community to contact their local officers and we will do everything we can to address these issues.”

Anyone with concerns of suspicious or criminal behaviour in their area is asked to report it to Cheshire Police via the Cheshire Police website or call 101.