Three Rivers Council secures more Closure Orders

Updated: 12 May 2020

Residents in two roads in South Oxhey and Leavesden should see a reduction in crime and antisocial behaviour around their homes, after Three Rivers District Council obtained two Closure Orders at unconnected addresses in the District.

Residents in two roads in South Oxhey and Leavesden should see a reduction in crime and antisocial behaviour around their homes, after Three Rivers District Council obtained two Closure Orders at unconnected addresses in the District. The orders were issued under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Three Rivers worked in partnership with Hertfordshire Police, Origin Housing, and Thrive Homes to gather evidence in support of the Closure Orders. Numerous complaints had been received from members of the public reporting loud arguments, suspected drug use and drug dealing, and noise disturbance at the addresses.

The Closure Order extension that was granted at Luton Magistrates’ Court, on Friday 1 May 2020, for a property at Malden House, South Oxhey means that no-one including the named tenant is allowed to enter the property for the next three months.

The second Closure Order granted at Luton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 5 May 2020, for the property at Cheshire Drive, Leavesden, excludes all persons except the tenant for three months. Anyone who breaks a Closure Order will face arrest.

Cllr Sara Bedford, Leader of the Council said; “I want to reassure residents there has not been an increase in drug dealing. However as there are fewer people out and about, crime and antisocial behaviour has become more noticeable and there has been an increase in reports from residents. The police have been able to intervene and take action against more drug dealers. I would like to thank those residents who have come forward to give us vital information, enabling us to continue tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.”

Cllr Roger Seabourne, Lead Member for Community Safety and Partnerships, added: “Anti-social behaviour has a detrimental effect on the community. We want to help people affected by anti-social behaviour and offer support to those who have been targeted, most often due to a variety of vulnerabilities. Drug dealers are no longer able to “hide in the open” and this is a positive side effect of the lockdown. Taking action against these criminals now will help keep our residents safer as we begin to return to more normal activities.

“We very much value our close working relationship with all our partners and know that these positive results provide a good precedent for future partnership working. Please continue to report anything of concern via the non-emergency number 101, or, if a crime or ASB is in progress to dial 999.”

Three Rivers urge their residents to keep helping them in the fight against drugs and associated Anti-social Behaviour (ASB). They continue to work closely with partner agencies to put a permanent stop to these crimes. Securing these Closure Orders is a significant part of partners working closely together with us to achieve these positive outcomes.