Court orders closure of Hartlepool properties

The multi-agency Hartlepool Community Safety Team secured orders on 14 and 16 Stephen Street and 3 Keswick Street which will remain in place for three months.

In the case of a fourth property, 7 Keswick Street, the application for a Closure Order was contested so a temporary order was granted, extending an existing Closure Notice until a further court hearing on 3rd November.

The Hartlepool Community Safety Team applied to Teesside Magistrates for the orders following complaints from residents concerned about crime and disorder occurring in both areas.

Councillor Mike Young, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council and Chair of the Safer Hartlepool Partnership, said: “We are determined to tackle criminal behaviour that is ruining the lives of law-abiding residents and we hope that these orders send out a clear message to that effect.”

Investigations have shown that issues in Stephen Street are linked to county lines drug dealing, organised crime, other drug dealing and anti-social behaviour.

In Keswick Street, problems include drug dealing – including supplying drugs to young people, violence with weapons, threats involving petrol bombs and damage to residents’ properties and cars.

Councillor Young added: “The Hartlepool Community Safety Team brings together staff from Hartlepool Borough Council, Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade, and by working with other partners such as Thirteen Group which in this case owns 3 Keswick Street, we really are able to make a difference.”

Chris Marshall, Head of Housing Services at Thirteen, said: "We always put the safety of our customers and the community where they live first, so we will not tolerate our homes being used for crime and anti-social behaviour as we understand the devastating impact behaviour like this can have.

“We are pleased these closure orders have been granted and we’ll continue to work in partnership with Hartlepool Borough Council and Cleveland Police to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime in our communities.”

The Closure Orders prevent the tenants from accessing the properties. The maximum penalty for a breach of an order is six months imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

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.