A crack house in Colchester has been shut down under laws used for the first time in the town.
Hard at work - the flat is boarded up by police under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN (39490-1)
Police and council workers emptied and boarded up a flat in Church Lane, Stanway, yesterday afternoon after getting a court order allowing the move.
PC Jim Finnigan, of Colchester police's southern community policing team, spent months gathering evidence before applying for the closure order under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act.
He said: "This piece of work is intended to bring to an end the misery endured by residents and will help reduce crime in Stanway.
"A number of people will be appearing before magistrates in connection with offences committed in the vicinity of the house."
One neighbour of the flat, who did not want to be named, said: "I'm pleased because I've suffered with this since March. It has been a nightmare."
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Published Friday, November 19, 2004
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