Drugs den in city's Park estate receives first 'crack house' closure order of the year
A COUPLE who turned their rented flat at an exclusive address into a drugs den have been evicted.
The pair were the first this year to be kicked out of a privately-owned home in Nottingham under a Crack House Closure Order.
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Police found heroin and a crack pipe at the property in the Ropewalk.
District Judge Mervyn Harris, sitting at Nottingham Magistrates' Court, imposed the order on the property in The Ropewalk after hearing how heroin and a pipe used to smoke crack cocaine were found there by police.
The order means the property is boarded up and it is illegal to remain in or enter it for three months. Tenants Emily Moore and Zahoor Hussain have been evicted.
The pair were said to be responsible for relentless antisocial behaviour and District Judge Harris was satisfied the flat was being used for taking and dealing in Class A drugs.
Moore, 26, and her partner Hussain, 43, who were tenants of the flat on the edge of The Park estate, had made their neighbours' lives a misery since December last year, not long after they moved in.
Neighbours were regularly unable to sleep because of the loud noise visitors would make in the early hours. They began to live in fear of visitors who constantly buzzed the communal intercom, shouted and argued, knocked loudly, banged doors and visited late at night in cars beeping their horns.
Smoke could be smelled from outside the apartment and residents believed the odour to be that of drugs.
According to the beat manager for The Park, PC Ian Taylor, there had been a sharp increase in crime in the area, particularly thefts from cars.
Moore repeatedly ignored warnings from police and the private landlord.
Notts Police searched Moore and Hussain's flat on July 7, and recovered a wrap of heroin in a bedroom.
They also found burned tin foil and a pipe for smoking crack cocaine.
Richard Antcliff, Notts Police's head of neighbourhood enforcement, said: "We will now continue to work with and support the landlord to secure eviction and ensure these people are not re-housed by the city council or other registered social landlords.
"We will attempt to exclude these people from the area but wherever they turn up, we will be waiting and watching.
"It is extremely difficult for witnesses in these situations to come forward and speak up, we need to recognise their courage and I personally thank them for this."
Notts police say only "a handful" of Crack House Closure Orders had been issued for privately-owned homes in the city.
Moore has been the subject of a drug rehabilitation order under which she should have visited probation officers twice a week. She failed to attend any of the appointments made.
13 Comments
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by Lorna, Notts
Saturday, November 27 2010, 2:01AM
“I am a landlady and had my house closed.
I was given 48 hours notice via telephone and email(because I was not in the UK)
My house was burgled while being shuttered(In my mind because it was advertised in the local paper).
I now have a house with no copper piping.
Windows broken to get in after removing shutter.The bath was removed,floor boards taken up to remove copper piping, door handles taken, carpets ruined from water damage.
Police took 3 days to get water board out to turn water off.
I am left with a ruined house and no income.
I now need a solicitor to fight for compensation.
Any help???????????????”
by Hooplah, Notts
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 9:22AM
“I agree with some of the previous comments. The evidence found hardly constitutes a crack house, just a couple of unfortunate junkies with a very hectic lifestyle. Like Anon from Notts states 'if you were living next door to a crack house you would know about it and the evidence would be overwhelming'.”
by bilal patel, beeston
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 12:56AM
“because he stole my laptop”
by Anil, nottms
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 11:04PM
“You really think that hes got off lightly then.
What really hurts is what these drug user put their family through. What must his parent think.
If he's your brother why havnt you help him then???????????????????????”
by bilal patel, beeston
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 10:42PM
“I think they got off lightly and he`s my brother”
by ANON,, NOTTS
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 10:09PM
“Right all you scum,
Listern here Moore and Hussein are guilty of using. Have you read the Act i dont think so. Police
officer need have no more than a reasonable suspicion that Class A drugs are present at the address
The Powers of the Act
The Act allows a police officer of the rank of Superintendent or above to apply for the closure of an address, initially for a period of 3 months. The officer need have no more than a reasonable suspicion that Class A drugs are present at the address, and that the address is associated with serious nuisance or disorder. Under s.1(8) it is not necessary that any occupant of the premises has been convicted for drugs use, production or supply. Initially the police will serve a closure notice on the occupiers of the property. The notice must then be effectively converted to a closure order by the magistrates within 48 hours of service. so do you really think it was necessary to evicte them. WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO>”
by Lesta, Lace Market
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 9:27PM
“If the property is rented then the landlord should have given them one months notice to quit.
Any arrests, any proscecutions, any jail time ?
Softly, softly. Same with the last government, same with the new. Weak, weak people in power.
Hit the scummy users hard and watch the demand for these drugs plummet.”
by onlooker, not bad
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 7:45PM
“not bad , evicted for drug dealing ? no wonder they are all at it .
as for excluding them from areas etc , if they have committed a crime , get the evidence and put them away , otherwise leave them alone , how much taxpayers money will be wasted watching and anylising these pair muppets every move from now on ?”
by Russ, notts
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 7:36PM
“Like i said every 1 has got it wrong. I visit the Park on a regular basis. Every area has his problem. I do feel for Moore and Hussein. As their are the victim. You tell me that if you had aproblem with antisocial behaviour you would do summat about it. Its all rubbish. And there wasnt any smell nobody is that stupid.”
by crack bad, Notts
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 6:12PM
“Russell...................The pair were said to be responsible for relentless antisocial behaviour and District Judge Harris was satisfied the flat was being used for taking and dealing in Class A drugs.
Moore, 26, and her partner Hussain, 43, who were tenants of the flat on the edge of The Park estate, had made their neighbours' lives a misery since December last year, not long after they moved in.
Neighbours were regularly unable to sleep because of the loud noise visitors would make in the early hours. They began to live in fear of visitors who constantly buzzed the communal intercom, shouted and argued, knocked loudly, banged doors and visited late at night in cars beeping their horns.
Smoke could be smelled from outside the apartment and residents believed the odour to be that of drugs.
Isn't that enough? People are not stupid, it's obvious to them what was going on i'm sure. The people were not kicked out because the police found a pipe and a little bit of crack one day. It would of been an ongoing complaint since they moved in. I dont think the NEP are the best at writing or getting the point across, ask anyone who visit here regular.”