Seventh Closure Order in Guildford Borough Within Three Months

Published on: 18 Aug, 2018
Updated on: 18 Aug, 2018

Google Map showing Greyhound Close, Ash, near the Greyhound Roundabout

The seventh closure order, was obtained last week against a flat in Greyhound Close, Ash.

The closure followed reports received by Surrey Police from local residents of drug dealing, fights, knives and drugs paraphernalia found in communal areas and other anti-social behaviour associated with this address.

In a press release a police spokesperson said: “Surrey Police’s Guildford Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) and the Anti-Social Behaviour Team have delivered a clear message that drug abuse and associated anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated in the borough…”

The most recent, Partial Closure Order was granted by Guildford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, August 9 (2018) and will remain in effect until 23.59 hours on November 8. The order states that no one other than the tenant can now enter or remain at this address.

When visiting the property, officers found that the tenant had been a victim of cuckooing (where people take over a vulnerable person’s home for their own personal gain) and had subsequently fled the address.

Sergeant Phil Bayman of the Guildford Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “Anti-social behaviour was having a hugely detrimental effect on the local community which included young families with children and the tenant himself, who had actually had to leave his property as a result of drug dealers taking over his flat.

‘Residents reported ‘frightening men’ coming and going from the address at all hours of the day and night, fights at the location and knives had been found in the communal areas. The court was satisfied that there was criminal behaviour and serious nuisance linked to the address and that the Order was necessary to prevent this.

“The purpose of these orders is not only to help local residents affected by the anti-social behaviour but also to offer support to those tenants whose addresses have been targeted, often due to their vulnerabilities.”

Surrey Police worked in conjunction with partners at Thames Valley Housing who will be looking to move the tenant.

Lavina Steele, Housing Officer, Thames Valley Housing said: “By Thames Valley Housing and Surrey Police building a great working relationship, we have been able to work together as a team to tackle this and we are delighted with the positive result, which now provides a precedent for close partnership working with other agencies.”

Surrey Police have worked with housing associations, Guildford Borough Council and private landlords to obtain the closures.

The police spokesperson added: “If you are experiencing anti-social behaviour in your neighbourhood please don’t suffer in silence. A one-stop shop for information on anti-social behaviour is available at www.surreycommunitysafety.org.uk . You can also call the Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.”