Closure order secured on Hitchin flat

A closure order has been secured on a Hitchin flat this week after numerous complaints about antisocial behaviour.

The order was granted at Stevenage Magistrates' Court to close the Bridge Street property for three months, due to the anti-social behaviour (ASB) of the tenant and her associates, who were using the address.

The order was enforced on Wednesday (January 10) following an application made by the North Herts Community Safety Unit (CSU), the Hitchin Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) and Clarion Housing Group. 

Officers received numerous complaints regarding suspected drug related activity at the address.

The housing association, Clarion Housing Group, had also received complaints from residents regarding ASB connected to the address, which was having a detrimental effect on their lives.

Senior ASB Officer Jeanette Dallimore, said: "Officers were called to the address on numerous occasions due to reports of anti-social behaviour and suspected drug related activity and this behaviour was escalating.

"Local residents should not have to put up with this kind of activity impacting on their daily lives in this way. I hope this has reassured the community that we take reports like this very seriously and along with our partners, have worked extremely hard to gather evidence to support the closure order application. 

"We will use every available tactic to tackle anti-social behaviour and I would continue to urge members of the community to report any behaviour of this nature to the police."

Working with Clarion and other agencies, CSU Sergeant Chris Adshead, Senior Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) Officer Jeanette Dallimore and Hitchin SNT officers applied to have the address closed for a three-month period to give the local community some respite from the issues, whilst the problem is addressed. 

The temporary closure order was granted under Section 80 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014. It bans anyone, other than police or maintenance workers, from entering the property for a period of three months.