Police want to close 'crack house'

POLICE are trying to close a Barnstaple "crack house" which is causing misery for neighbours.

Devon and Cornwall Police has submitted an application to close 3 Poltimore Lawn on the Frankmarsh estate after years of complaints and incidents about the use of hard drugs, including crack and heroin.

The closure application, known as a "crack house closure" procedure, the first such action in the town, was heard at Barnstaple Magistrates' Court on Monday. The tenant, Jane Robinson, attended the hearing.

David Campbell, counsel for the police, told the court that the burden was on the constabulary to show that on the balance of probabilities that the closure notice was justified. He successfully applied for permission to use hearsay evidence during the hearing.

Mr Campbell said 3 Poltimore Lawn should be "closed" and the tenant removed because it was being used for the supply of Class A drugs and the use of the premises was associated with disorder and serious nuisance to members of the public.

Tracey Williams, a North Devon Homes neighbourhood services officer, appeared in court as a witness. She told the court that eviction proceedings were under way to remove Miss Robinson, who had lived in the house since April 2005.

Miss Williams said neighbours had made numerous complaints about Miss Robinson and her visitors, many of whom were thought to be drug users. There had also been complaints about loud parties between May and July in 2007.

The court heard that Miss Robinson had signed an anti-social behaviour contract in September which explicitly forbade her from allowing drug-taking in her house, damaging her house or having visitors. Since then, there have been no formal complaints to police, the court heard.

PC Anna Fielding also appeared to give evidence. In a written statement, which was referred to in court, she reported that Class A drugs were used and sold at the house and there had been police raids this year during which drugs were seized.

PC Fielding told the court that reports from neighbours, and other police intelligence, indicated that visitors were calling at 3 Poltimore Lawn to buy drugs.

When she was asked by Mr Campbell what she thought would happen if the closure order was not granted by magistrates, PC Fielding told the court: "I believe that drug dealers will recommence from the address. If an order is not granted, I believe it will go back to the way it was."

The application hearing was due to continue on Wednesday, after the Journal went to press.

● The first application to close a drugs house by police in North Devon and Torridge was for 73 Meddon Street in Bideford, which was closed in the summer after magistrates granted an order. Magistrates agreed the property could be boarded up under powers contained in the 2003 Anti-Social Behaviour Act.