Police close drugs den (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Police close drugs den

1:20pm Sunday 7th February 2010 in

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A DRUGS den in the quiet village of Odiham has been closed after neighbours raised concerns with the police.

Officers boarded up the home at 28 Buffins Road, Odiham, after obtaining a Crack House Closure Order from Andover Magistrates Court.

The court heard how officers carried out a raid on the Sentinel Housing Association-owned bungalow on November 14 after suspicions were raised by neighbours.

PC Dave Woods, anti-social behaviour field officer for north-east Hampshire, said forensic tests revealed traces of cocaine and drugs paraphernalia at the property.

He added that neighbours had also complained about the number of youths who came to the property, causing a nuisance with bad behaviour.

The order, made under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, means that for the next three months until April 14, it is a criminal offence to enter the house without police permission. The property was rented by Anthea West, aged 23.

One Buffins Road resident, who did not wish to be named, told The Gazette: “It’s quite a genteel village and in this road there are elderly and quiet residents.

“We were aware something was going on. There were lots of people going inside, which we reported. I know that some of the neighbours also complained about loud music.”

PC Victoria Bolan, of the Odiham Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: “This closure order has been achieved through community engagement and listening to residents’ concerns and shows that by working together, we can make our communities safer.

“Drug use and drug supply affects everyone’s quality of life, especially those living within a close proximity to where this offence is taking place.”

Alison Bone, neighbourhood manager at Sentinel Housing Association, said the organisation supported the police action and reserved the right to refuse people if they breached their tenancy agreements.

She added: “We would urge anyone who suspects anything untoward going on to call us or the police to help us investigate and stamp out dealing and nuisance behaviour.”