Hartlepool drugs den closed following court order

A judge at Teesside Magistrates Court has granted an application by Hartlepool Borough Council on behalf of the Hartlepool Community Safety Team to shut 4 Fieldfare Road, off Throston Grange Lane, Hartlepool.

The three-month premises closure order was made under the terms of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

It makes it a criminal offence for any person to enter or to remain in the detached property until September 5.

Exceptions are one named person, the emergency services and other essential maintenance workers.

A breach of the order is punishable with a fine of up to £5,000, imprisonment of up to 51 weeks or both.

The safety team said the closure order was granted on the basis of disorderly, offensive or criminal behaviour and that the application was to “tackle drug dealing from the premises”.

It follows a similar three-month order imposed towards the end of 2019.

Tony Hanson, the council’s assistant director (environment and neighbourhood services), said: “By securing this closure order we want to send out a clear message that criminal activity will not be tolerated and we are committed to taking action against those involved in it.”

The Hartlepool Community Safety Team brings together Hartlepool Borough Council, Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade to provide a multi-agency response to community safety issues.

Anyone who witnesses potential breaches of the order should call the police on 999 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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