Ilkeston flat at the centre of drug dealing and anti-social behaviour forced to close

A flat that has been at the centre of drug dealing and anti-social behaviour in Ilkeston has been forced to close.

The property in Chapel Street has blighted the lives of the local community for many months.

Despite the best efforts of the local Safer Neighbourhood Team, along with other partners, to help the occupant the problems, including assaults, threats, drugs and stolen goods being brought to the address, continued.

As a result, the force made an application to close the property and on 27 September magistrates in Derby agreed.

The flat will now be closed for three months – with anyone breaching the order able to be arrested and jailed.

PC David Rushton from the local policing team said: “The impact of this one flat on the community has been enormous and I am very glad to be able to report that we have seen the closure of this flat.

“While I understand there has been some frustration about the length of time that the process has taken, it is only right that we give those involved the opportunity to change their ways.

“When it was clear that this was not the case we moved quickly to ask the courts to close the address.

“I hope everyone in the area begins to see the positive results of this closure and I would urge them to continue to pass through information of any other issues to ensure that, as a policing team, we are able to tackle any problems as quickly as possible.”