Closure Order secured on a property in Three Rivers

Three Rivers District Council has been successful in securing a Closure Order at an address in South Oxhey under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Three Rivers worked in partnership with Hertfordshire Police and Thrive Homes to gather evidence in support of the Closure Order. The council, police and Thrive Homes had received numerous calls from members of the public reporting arguments at the address, noisy visitors, domestic abuse, suspected drug use and drug dealing.

The Closure Order was granted at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on Thursday April 5 2018 on a property in Ballater Close, South Oxhey, Watford, Hertfordshire. No-one is allowed to enter the property for three months and anyone who breaks the terms of the Closure Order will face arrest.

The court was satisfied that all the necessary criteria for a Closure Order had been met, including:

• that a person has engaged, or (if the order is not made) is likely to engage, in disorderly, offensive or criminal behaviour on the premises, or
• that the use of the premises has resulted, or (if the order is not made) is likely to result, in serious nuisance to members of the public, or
• that there has been, or (if the order is not made) is likely to be, disorder near those premises associated with the use of those premises,

Three Rivers urge their residents to help them in the fight against drugs and associated Anti-social Behaviour (ASB). They are working closely with partner agencies to put a permanent stop to these crimes. Securing the Closure Order is a significant part of helping them achieve that.

Dr Steven Halls, Chief Executive of Three Rivers said: “We very much value our close working relationship with the police and Thrive Homes. By taking this action to close the address, we hope to and improve the quality of life for our local communities and provide some respite from the behaviour that causes such misery for neighbours.

“Three Rivers want local residents to continue to report anything of concern via the non-emergency number 101 or, if a crime or ASB is in progress, dial 999.”