Ickleford Bungalow Closed

A bungalow in Ickleford, Hitchin was closed on (Wednesday, June 1) following an application made by the Hitchin Community Safety Unity (CSU), Hitchin Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) and settle housing.

The order was granted at Stevenage Magistrates Court to close the property in Cedar Avenue, for three months, due to the anti-social behaviour (ASB) of the 41 year old female tenant and her associates, who were using the address.

Local officers had received numerous complaints regarding drug related activity at the address. The housing association, settle group, had also received complaints from residents regarding ASB connected to the address, which was having a detrimental effect on their lives.

Working with settle and other agencies, North Herts ASB Officer 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 Closure Order was granted under Section 80 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014. It bans anyone from entering the property for a period of three months.

Anti-social Behaviour Officer Jeanette Dallimore said: "Officers were called to the address on numerous occasions due to reports of anti-social behaviour and this 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 ASB and I would continue to urge members of the community to report any behaviour of this nature to the police."

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You can contact your local Safer Neighbourhood Officers by calling 101. You can also report information online at www.herts.police.uk/report , speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via online web chat at www.herts.police.uk/contact .

If a crime is in progress or someone's life is in danger, call 999 immediately.