Crack closure order bid by police fails
Friday, 20th August 2010.
Haverhill police have failed in their attempt to bar a tenant from her home in Haverhill under a so-called 'crackhouse closure order'.
A temporary closure order had been in place at the property in Boxford Court since the end of last month, after nearby residents had apparently complained about drug-dealing.
The tenant Theresa Cassar contested the order when it was first heard by Bury St Edmunds magistrates on July 30, so it was adjourned for hearing at Sudbury Magistrates Court on August 10.
At that hearing PC Will Wright told the court residents of Boxford Court and Marlborough Court were living with constant fear hanging over them.
However, residents were too frightened to give evidence, although Karly McGuire, representing Suffolk police, told the court cocaine was found when police carried out a drugs raid at the property on July 15.
The case was adjourned until yesterday for magistrates to decide whether to confirm the closure order under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, which would have barred anyone other than the legitimate residents from visiting the house.
The magistrates decided not to confirm the order. Sgt Sarah Bartley of Haverhill Safer Neighbourhood Team said they were obviously disappointed, but were keen to continue their fight against drugs in Haverhill.
She said: "Naturally, we are disappointed that the closure order was not granted by magistrates but in their summing up the chair of the bench stated that the police had proved that there was anti-social behaviour and class A drug use at the premises but there was not a clear enough link between the two.
"Unfortunately this was necessary for the order to be given, so I am satisfied that we were justified in bringing the application to court and felt it was necessary for the residents who have to live nearby.
"Haverhill SNT will continue to deal robustly with complaints of drug use and anti-social behaviour and I am keen to hear from people who have information about these issues within the town.
"We have previously had three successful closure orders in Haverhill and we are confident that we will be able to obtain them again in the future should these sorts of issues be brought to our attention again."
A temporary closure order had been in place at the property in Boxford Court since the end of last month, after nearby residents had apparently complained about drug-dealing.
The tenant Theresa Cassar contested the order when it was first heard by Bury St Edmunds magistrates on July 30, so it was adjourned for hearing at Sudbury Magistrates Court on August 10.
At that hearing PC Will Wright told the court residents of Boxford Court and Marlborough Court were living with constant fear hanging over them.
However, residents were too frightened to give evidence, although Karly McGuire, representing Suffolk police, told the court cocaine was found when police carried out a drugs raid at the property on July 15.
The case was adjourned until yesterday for magistrates to decide whether to confirm the closure order under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, which would have barred anyone other than the legitimate residents from visiting the house.
The magistrates decided not to confirm the order. Sgt Sarah Bartley of Haverhill Safer Neighbourhood Team said they were obviously disappointed, but were keen to continue their fight against drugs in Haverhill.
She said: "Naturally, we are disappointed that the closure order was not granted by magistrates but in their summing up the chair of the bench stated that the police had proved that there was anti-social behaviour and class A drug use at the premises but there was not a clear enough link between the two.
"Unfortunately this was necessary for the order to be given, so I am satisfied that we were justified in bringing the application to court and felt it was necessary for the residents who have to live nearby.
"Haverhill SNT will continue to deal robustly with complaints of drug use and anti-social behaviour and I am keen to hear from people who have information about these issues within the town.
"We have previously had three successful closure orders in Haverhill and we are confident that we will be able to obtain them again in the future should these sorts of issues be brought to our attention again."
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