A council property used as drug den in Brighton has been boarded up after a court hearing.
The move followed the granting of a closure order by Brighton magistrates after Sussex Police and Brighton and Hove City Council spelt out a history of problems there.
The property – 2 Holmsted in Upper Lewes Road – was the site of months of anti-social behaviour the court was told.
It will stay closed for three months and the council is expected to evict the property’s tenant.
Sergeant David Palmer said: “This is a great result for local residents who have had to endure months of intolerable behaviour by individuals using this property for unlawful activity.
“There have been groups of people trying to get into the property and in two instances actually breaking down the door to the flat.
“An order like this is the last resort and a great deal of work has taken place to try to end the anti-social behaviour prior to the decision being made to close the property.”
The court heard that other acts of anti-social behaviour associated with the property included drug dealing, aggressive behaviour from visitors, banging of doors and screaming.
Councillor Maria Caulfield, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “Anti-social behaviour has a serious impact on people’s lives and this result sends a clear message that it will not be tolerated in the city.”
She said that the council was committed to acting swiftly and decisively when dealing with serious nuisance among its tenants.
She added: “Our environmental health and housing teams have been able to assist partners to bring this unacceptable situation to a swift conclusion.”
