Drug Den Shut Down After Chaos Rocks Bishop’s Stortford
Police have slammed the brakes on a notorious drug hotspot in Oak Street after a raft of anti-social behaviour terrorised residents. Stevenage Magistrates’ Court handed down a tough closure order on Thursday 3 March, banning anyone unauthorised from entering the address for three months.
Strict Penalties for Trespassers
Anyone caught sneaking into the property faces arrest and could be hit with a fine up to £5,000, prison time, or both. The crackdown follows mounting reports of drug use, dealing, and a slew of complaints from locals fed up with the chaos.
Evidence Piles Up Against Drug Users and Dealers
Officers PC Derek Lewin and PC Obi Anoliefo teamed up with residents to compile a hefty 95-page dossier of proof. The report detailed:
- Day and night drug users causing noise and disturbance, with shouting and screaming outside
- Frequent ambulance call-outs and regular police visits
- Vehicles pulling up to buy and sell drugs
- Threats of criminal damage and personal harm to the home’s occupant from dealers
- Residents too scared to bring their grandchildren nearby
- Violent fights breaking out between visitors
- A clear spike in town centre crime linked to the property’s visitors
Police Vow to Keep Communities Safe
“This closure order will hopefully send a message that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated in Bishop’s Stortford,” said PC Obi Anoliefo. “Anyone with information about anti-social behaviour or drug activity in their neighbourhood is urged to please report the details to us so that we can take action to make your community safer. Your calls can make a real difference.”
Inspector Mark Collins, East Herts Safer Neighbourhood Team, added: “The effect of anti-social behaviour in the local area has been devastating for local residents and I thank them for their support. Working with our partners at East Herts Council and Clarion Housing we have ensured that they can start getting some deserved peace without living in fear.”
