EASTVILLE residents whose lives were made a “misery” by drug dealing and antisocial behaviour at a house in Bay Gardens have been given some relief.
Police and the city council worked together to secure a court order to seal up the house for three months in September.
They said the order was granted at Bristol Magistrates’ Court because of the property’s “ongoing links with antisocial behaviour, drug use and supply”.
The three-month closure order was obtained against the property in Bay Gardens, Eastville, from on Tuesday 1 September.
Police say anyone who tries to enter it between now and December will be committing a criminal offence.
Avon and Somerset Police’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team, the Eastville Neighbourhood Team and the council, which owns the home, secured the order by demonstrating how its criminal use has “caused significant tension to neighbours”.
A police spokesperson said: “The property has caused concern to residents for months, and officers have regularly attended the area upon receiving reports of incidents involving ASB, drug use and supply, as well as its links to stolen goods and other offences.
“High-visibility patrols have regularly been carried out in the area, and officers have also developed intelligence and gathered evidence in order to secure the order from the courts.”
Neighbourhood Inspector Richard Jones said: “This application demonstrates our ongoing commitment and determination to tackle anti-social behaviour, while acting on information supplied by our residents and our partners, and we will take robust action against those who bring misery to our communities.”
‘Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure’
The chair of the council’s homes and housing committee, Barry Parsons, said: “The court’s decision to enforce this closure order marks an important step in addressing the anti-social behaviour and criminal activity linked to the property and offers a welcome reprieve to residents who have been significantly impacted.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure in their local community, and we remain committed to working with Avon and Somerset Police to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour and criminal activity wherever it occurs.”
The closure order order can be extended in December.
*Police say crime in the area around Eastgate Retail Park is down by more than a third after increased patrols and targeted action against offenders.
An operation during the summer included regular high-visibility patrols, intelligence gathering and “taking positive action against offenders”.
Picture: PC Rebecca Walby, Neighbourhood Inspector Richard Jones, PCSO Michelle Bryant and Tina McIvor, antisocial behaviour coordinator for Bristol East, outside the sealed house