Drug dealing and fighting: Home shut down by police after area blighted by antisocial behaviour

Aggressive language, drug dealing and fighting have led police to serve a closure order on a property in Hillfields in Bristol.

The order means no-one can enter the property in La Maison in Deans Drive for three months, after it was granted at Bristol Magistrates Court.

Its owner Sanctuary Housing is now starting possession proceedings to evict the tenant.

Neighbourhood Inspector Kris Harris said: “We are immensely grateful to everyone who has supported this application by providing statements and information about what has been going on in the area in recent months.”

“They told us antisocial behaviour was persistent and it was having a huge toll on their day-to-day lives.

“It is absolutely unacceptable for people to feel unsafe in their own home. It’s for that reason that the application was made to magistrates and we’re glad it was approved.

“We’d urge anyone who finds themselves experiencing similar issues in their neighbourhood to make sure they report it to police because your concerns will be taken seriously and we can help.

Gael Auton, Sanctuary’s area manager, added: “We take all complaints of antisocial behaviour extremely seriously. Everyone should have the right to feel safe and comfortable in their own home, and we are committed to working with our partners to take action whenever problems occur.”

Closure orders are often used by police to deal with properties where suspected crime is taking place.

In June, police shut an entire block of flats called Millmead House in Hartcliffe in a bid to tackle drug-related crime and antisocial behaviour in the communal areas.