Ashford Flat Shut Down Over Drugs and Anti-Social Mayhem
A notorious Ashford flat at the centre of drug chaos and anti-social behaviour has been slapped with a two-month closure order. The one-bedroom property in Park Place was shut by a Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on 22 August, following a joint crackdown by Kent Police and Ashford Borough Council.
Flat Sealed and Off Limits Until October
The closure order runs until 21 October 2018, making it a criminal offence for anyone to enter the premises during this period. The flat has been cleared out, boarded up, and is now plastered with police warning signs.
Residents Driven Mad by Late-Night Drug Fiends
Local residents have been battered repeatedly by late-night disturbances. Visitors, often intoxicated or high on illegal substances, have flooded the flat at all hours. Incidents include street fights, damage to the flat and communal areas, and relentless noise that robbed families and children of sleep.
One elderly resident was even forced to move out due to health risks caused by the turmoil. Kent Police executed two drug raids this year, uncovering class A and B drugs as well as a knife.
Operation Raptor Cracks Down on Drug Lords
Just days after the second raid in February, police served the flat’s occupant with a Community Protection Notice over persistent anti-social conduct. Sergeant Simon Clarke explained:
“This flat has been the root of persistent problems—open drug dealing, noise, and intimidation at all hours. We hope this closure reassures the community that we won’t tolerate this behaviour.”
He added that police will continue targeting other properties linked to drugs and anti-social behaviour.
Ashford Borough Council’s Cllr Gerald White backed the move, saying:
“We have a zero tolerance policy on drugs and crime in our properties. This ruling sends a clear message – such conduct won’t be tolerated.”
Sergeant Clarke concluded:
“No one can enter this property for two months without breaking the law. We expect residents to see a real boost in their quality of life.”
Operation Raptor remains Kent’s hard-hitting mission cracking down on Class A drugs and crime across the county.
