Court orders closure of Hartlepool property

Published Friday, 18th June 2021

Community safety officials have taken action to secure the closure of a Hartlepool property following complaints from neighbours about prostitution, drug dealing and anti-social behaviour.

The multi-agency Hartlepool Community Safety Team, comprising staff from Hartlepool Borough Council, Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade, applied to Teesside Magistrates today (Friday June 18th) for a Closure Order in respect of 9 Leyburn Street.

Following an escalation in the problems emanating from the terraced property, anti-social behaviour staff from the Council, police officers and PCSOs worked closely together to prepare a case.

The property in Leyburn Street

The property in Leyburn Street

Councillor Shane Moore, the Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council and Chair of the Safer Hartlepool Partnership, said: “This is what the Hartlepool Community Safety Team is all about – bringing organisations together to provide a response to issues that are having a detrimental effect on the lives of law-abiding residents.

“I would like to thank all members of staff involved in bringing this matter to court and securing the Closure Order.

“It should send out a strong warning to those people involved in crime and anti-social behaviour that we are not prepared to tolerate their actions.”

Issues highlighted by the Hartlepool Community Safety Team in its case for the Closure Order included:

  • Use of the property for the purposes of prostitution
  • Drug dealing/taking
  • The playing of loud music, shouting, screaming and banging of doors.
  • Cars arriving at and leaving the premises at all time of the day and night.
  • The smashing of doors and windows by men wielding hammers.
  • Substantial police involvement in relation to breaches of COVID regulations.

The Closure Order will remain in place for three months. A breach of such an order is punishable with a fine of up to £5,000, imprisonment of up to 51 weeks or both. Anyone who witnesses an order being breached should call the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.