Police have shut down a suspected ‘crack house’ in Bradford after receiving complaints of anti-social behaviour from concerned residents living nearby.
Officers entered the terraced house in Dover Street, Wapping, yesterday after being granted a closure order by Bradford magistrates.
A short while later, two officers led a woman in her 20s from the premises in handcuffs after arresting her on suspicion of possessing Class A drugs.
A man in his 50s had earlier been evicted from the house, let to him by social landlord Incommunities. The property, which will be in police hands for three months, was boarded up. PC Neil Thornton, from the force’s Operation Sparse Team, which had been gathering information on the property for around six months, said: “Alongside our own intelligence, a large amount of information was gathered from the local community, which revealed that issues around drugs were a serious concern for residents.
“Such properties also become synonymous with anti-social behaviour and have a detrimental effect on the whole neighbourhood.”
PC Jonathon Bolton, also from the team, said: “The closure of the premises is a good result for people in the area and evidence of the positive outcome that can be gained from community engagement.
“This is something which residents have done for themselves, working with the police to target issues which directly affect them.
It’s really about creating a relationship that empowers the community to challenge behaviour that blights their everyday lives. Through this latest order, we have shown that such activities will not be tolerated and we will pursue closure orders against those whose actions affect their neighbours and the wider communities of Bradford.”
Anna Fryer, director of Incommunities’ West City office, said: “This is an excellent result for local residents and shows the strength of everyone working together to take a firm stand against anti-social behaviour.
“Incommunities is committed to working with the police, the community and local partners to ensure our customers are able to live in safe and peaceful neighbourhoods. It sends out a clear warning to those who through their actions make other people’s lives a misery.
“Any Incommunities tenants across the district can report anti-social behaviour incidents using the housing group’s 24-hour reporting line on 01274 254274.”
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