A flat in Brighton, associated with drug misuse, anti-social behaviour, and causing a nuisance to local residents, has been shut down under a Section 80 Closure Order.
The order, under the Anti Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, was heard before Brighton magistrates and served on Tuesday (22 September). It prevents any person other than the flat owner from entering the premises in Normanton Street for a three-month closure period.
Police carried out a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act on the top floor flat on Monday (21 September) and found a quantity of drugs, drug paraphernalia and cash.
Closure Notice issued under s.80 ASB Crime & Policing Act 2014 on address's near Elm Grove, Brighton. pic.twitter.com/OOp53kl8xw
— PC Jimmy Conway (@PCJimmyConway) September 22, 2015
A 41-year-old Brighton man was arrested on suspicion of possession to intent supply class A and class B drugs and money laundering. He has been bailed until 11 December. A 33-year-old Brighton man was also arrested on suspicion of possession to intent to supply class A and class B drugs. He has been bailed until 10 December.
Inspector Simon Morgan said: “The occupants of this premises have clearly caused both nuisance and distress towards the neighbours of this quiet, residential street. The flat has been associated with habitual drug use as well as anti-social behaviour which comes hand-in-hand with such abuse.
“Brighton’s neighbourhood policing team will continue to use the powers under the new Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act to ensure that communities are kept safe from such problem premises should they emerge anyway in our city.”
So it’ll move somewhere else now.
The reason a lot of these flats stay untouched by the police is because they can monitor the activity, they know who comes and goes, they can track and trace people. When they close, the people and dealers move on and they have to start searching for them again. This is why the drug house opposite the Coopers Cask in Hove stayed “open” for 15 years.