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Stockport Homes, Stockport Council and Greater Manchester Police successfully secured Stockport’s fourth Nuisance Premises Closure Order at 62 Ruskin Grove, Bredbury, on 1 June 2010. The order came after weeks of planning and evidence gathering by Stockport Homes and the Police.
The tenants of 62 Ruskin Grove had been causing serious nuisance, disorder and were supplying cannabis in the Ruskin Grove area for some time. Residents living nearby were subjected to:
- intimidation, verbal abuse and threats;
- large numbers of callers to the address at all times of the day and night;
- drug and alcohol abuse on Ruskin Grove and in the property;
- violent incidents in the street; and
- loud parties continuing into the early hours.
Residents in the area began to fear the ongoing nuisance and disorder and felt harassed and intimidated by the occupants of 62 Ruskin Grove and their visitors. Residents felt trapped in their own home and unable to deal with the matter for fear of reprisals.
Staff from Stockport Homes, the Council and the Police contacted residents about the problems they were experiencing and as a result enough evidence was secured for a Closure Notice to be served under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003. The police also executed two Misuse of Drugs Act search warrants and recovered substantial quantities of cannabis and cash. One of the tenants has been charged with possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
A closure hearing took place at Stockport Magistrates Court on Tuesday 1 June 2010. The tenants were present in court when the order was made.
It was agreed that the property would be closed at 8.00pm on 1 June 2010 to provide the tenants with enough time to remove some belongings and vacate the property.
The court found that the closure order was necessary to protect the public, in particular local residents, from further disorder at the property. The closure order was granted for three months during which time no one is allowed to enter the property.
At the same time as securing the closure order, Stockport Homes also secured an interim Anti-Social Behaviour injunction against one of the tenants, who had been one of the main causes of the Anti-Social Behaviour from the property. The injunction that was granted excludes her from entering the Ruskin Grove area.
Dave Kirwan, Stockport Homes’ Board Champion on Respect said: “The work carried out by Stockport Homes, the Council and the Police demonstrated the commitment of the Safer Stockport Partnership in tackling nuisance and Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in Stockport and has made a real difference to the residents of Ruskin Grove.
This is excellent example of partnership working, whereby the community and multi-agency partnership have made a determined stand against ASB. We will not tolerate ASB and this action will give local residents a welcome reprieve from the chronic ASB they have had to endure from this family.”
Sergeant Geoff Machent from the Stockport East Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) added: “We are committed to dealing with the issues that matter most to local people. Anti-Social Behaviour is a blight on local communities and we will continue to target those that show no regard for others. If anyone is experiencing problems with Anti-Social Behaviour they should contact the Stockport East NPT on 0161 856 9973 or email stockport.eastnpt@gmp.police.uk.”
END
Note for Editor:
For further information please contact:
Jane Wresdell – Marketing & Communications Manager
Stockport Homes 0161 474 2863
Safer Stockport Partnership
Stockport is one of the safest places to live in Greater Manchester, but the Safer Stockport Partnership is committed to making sure it becomes safer still. The Safer Stockport Partnership joins together many public and voluntary organisations, including Stockport Council, Stockport Homes, Police, Health Service, and Victim Support. Its purpose is to reduce crime, drug misuse and Anti-Social Behaviour, and their effects on the people of Stockport.
