Closure order granted, Keswick Street, Hartlepool

Magistrates have granted a Closure Order on a Hartlepool house following complaints from neighbouring residents about crime and antisocial behaviour.

The multi-agency Hartlepool Community Safety Team which brings together staff from Hartlepool Borough Council, Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade, successfully applied to Teesside Magistrates for the order on 7 Keswick Street.

Although the application was contested, the court approved the order which will remain in place for three months. Costs of £1820.42 were awarded to Hartlepool Borough Council.

This comes just two weeks after magistrates granted an uncontested Closure Order on 3 Keswick Street.

The court hearings were told that the problems occurring in the street included drug dealing – including supplying drugs to young people, violence with weapons, threats involving petrol bombs and damage to residents’ properties and cars.

Councillor Mike Young, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council and Chair of the Safer Hartlepool Partnership, said: “I am pleased that the court has granted this Closure Order despite opposition to the Hartlepool Community Safety Team’s application.

“This shows how determined we are to tackle criminal behaviour that is ruining the lives of law-abiding residents.”

Inspector Adrian Dack from Hartlepool’s Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) said: “This kind of antisocial behaviour and criminality makes the lives of residents a complete misery. I hope this closure order sends out a clear message that we will not tolerate such behaviour and we will act to ensure we are deterring crime and improving the lives of those in the local community. I would encourage anyone with information about crime in their area to contact the Neighbourhood Policing Team on 101.”

The Closure Order prevents the tenants from accessing the property. The maximum penalty for a breach of an order is six months imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

Anyone who witnesses the order being breached should call police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.