Brentford Crack House Closed Down

Property on Avenue Road was being used by dealers

A crack house on a Brentford street has been closed down following complaints from residents that it was creating an epidemic of anti-social behaviour.

The flat in Auriol House, in Avenue Road, has been used for several months by drug dealers to sell heroin and crack cocaine.

The address, which is well known among local drug users, was regularly visited by addicts who would inject themselves or smoke inside the flat and other communal areas. In addition, the crack house would regularly attract people day and night, who would intimidate residents with their behaviour.

Now Hounslow Community Safety Partnership, a collaboration of organisations committed to making Hounslow safer, including Hounslow Council and Hounslow Police, have acted to bring an end to this criminal activity.

On 29th January 2007, officers from Brentford Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) served a closure notice on the address, which was supported on February 16 at Feltham Magistrates’ Court when an official closure order was made. On February 19, that order was enforced and the flat was closed off. It means the flat will be boarded up for three months in an effort to rid the area of this scourge.

The order was made possible by residents who have kept police informed of anti-social behaviour in the area. This intelligence has been crucial in obtaining the order.

Sgt Nathan Fane, of Brentford Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said, “Residents in Avenue Road and adjoining streets have been telling us it has been intolerable to live there while these criminal activities have been going on. We’re very pleased to have secured this closure and hopefully it will lead to a quieter, safer area.”

Cllr Phil Andrews, Hounslow Council’s lead member for housing and community safety, said: “With our partners at Hounslow Police, we have been able to act and hopefully this will lead to peace of mind and reassurance for those people who have had their lives interrupted by this criminal activity.”

The address has now been completely sealed behind a steel door. The order will remain in place for three months. The flat’s bona fide resident has been found alternative accommodation.

February 20, 2007