Drugs den flat in Nuneaton is officially shut down

There has been a flood of complaints about drug users and anti-social behaviour from the flat



A drugs den council flat in Nuneaton has been officially shut down.

The property in Dillon Court was a magnet for drug users and at the centre of anti-social behaviour, causing a flood of complaints and it prompted action from the police and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council .

Together the council and the police obtained a closure order from magistrates at the Warwickshire Justice Centre yesterday.

It was later served on the occupant of Flat 26 Dillon Court and now no-one can enter the property for three months.

Rachel Jackson of the Nuneaton and Bedworth Safer Communities Partnership said: “This closure order is yet another example of the council’s commitment to addressing serious anti-social behaviour in the borough. We will not tolerate our communities being affected by this type of behaviour and our response in this case reflects that.

“The granting of this closure order is the culmination of the police and council officers working together to deal with a property which has caused much distress to the local community. This sends out a very clear message that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated in the borough. We will continue to utilise all the powers available to us to address issues of crime and anti-social behaviour.”

Dawn Dawson, director of communities and housing at the Town Hall , said: “Where tenants, leaseholders or homeowners are found to be perpetrating crime or serious anti-social behaviour, in or around their properties, the council will ensure that every option available to them is used to address those issues.”

Chief Inspector Daf Goddard of Warwickshire Police stressed that the closure order was an example of their 'You said, we did' campaign.

“This particular address has been frequently associated with anti-social behaviour and criminality. We have engaged and listened carefully to the community and have taken collaborative action alongside our partners at the council," the top cop said.

"We have taken this step to protect the local community from this type of behaviour and we will utilise these powers again, wherever they are justified, in order to protect our neighbourhoods.”

How police are tackling the menace of a violent drugs 'turf war' in Nuneaton



An operation is underway to stop a ‘turf war’ between dealers trying to flood the streets of Nuneaton with drugs.

The sting, code-named Operation Farrell has been running for the past seven months with the aim of stopping drugs barons from neighbouring cities from sending dealers into the town, taking over the homes of vulnerable people and causing violence.

It was launched in December following a rise in violent crime, including several stabbings, linked to what cops call ‘County Lines’ which is when drug dealers from the West Midlands, Staffordshire and Leicestershire areas, send gangs of young people or vulnerable adults to carry and sell drugs from town to town and across county boundaries.

So far there have been 28 arrests, one closure order of a ‘crack den’ flat in Dillon Court and the seizure of Class A and Class B drugs and firearms.

Having kept the operation under-wraps for so long, top cops have decided to lift the lid on it, with an appeal for people to come forward with any information they may have.

Inspector Dave Williams, Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) lead for Nuneaton, Bedworth, and North Warwickshire, said: “To date there have been 28 arrests and a closure order at a property in Dillon Court, Nuneaton.

“But this only tells half the story; the main success has been the disruption to the county lines drugs supply and an improved intelligence picture that is helping us to target those responsible.

"We are sending out a clear message; if you’re coming to Nuneaton to deal drugs and take part in other forms of criminal activity, you’re not welcome.

"We’re looking for you and we will do everything in our power to disrupt your activity and make the town a hostile place for you.

“A lot of what we have achieved has only been possible thanks to information provided by members of the public.

"As we go public with the operation, I would urge people to continue to provide us with information and play a part in helping to make Nuneaton a safe place to live, work, and visit.”

“We can’t act immediately on every piece of information, but no matter how small that information is it helps us to build up a better picture of the issues we are facing,” Insp Williams said.

“Your information could be the final part of the puzzle that will allow us to make an arrest or take out a warrant.

"I would also like to reassure people that Operation Farrell isn’t going to be a one off.

"We know that as we eliminate one supply of drugs other dealers will look to move in to fill the gap.

"We’re in this for the long haul and are committed to making it as difficult as possible to deal drugs in Nuneaton .”