Case study - Chelmsford

South Anglia Housing and Essex Police close Chelmsford drug-den

South Anglia Housing and Essex Police have just successfully closed down an apartment in Chelmsford in which Class-A drugs were in regular use.

Over a two year period, Mr Sean Nethercoat’s third floor riverside apartment overlooking the Blackwater canal had become a den for the use of Class-A drugs. The apartment is one of 19 affordable housing flats owned by South Anglia Housing.

Addicts were making the lives of surrounding neighbours unbearable – coming and going at all times of night and day and disturbing surrounding flats in search of drugs.

Steve Kensington, South Anglia Housing’s anti-social behaviour co-ordinator had been working hard for months to resolve the matter peaceably. He succeeded in securing Mr Nethercoat’s signature on an acceptable behaviour contract, and arranged for EPIC Tenancy Support. However, the illegal activity continued, and South Anglia Housing was forced to seek possession of the property.

Alison Lambert, representing Essex Police, provided statements from four residents complaining of anti-social behaviour around the Lockside Marina flat. The statements – along with those of the ASB Coordinator and Neighbourhood Officer – were produced at a hearing at Chelmsford Magistrate’s Court, where Essex Police successfully obtained a three-month closure of the property.

Sgt Nikki Gander of Essex Police stated: “Problems worsened in the last couple of months… when we raided the flat, we found lots of drugs paraphernalia and something containing 27 wraps, which is still being analysed.”

Steve Kensington adds: “Seeking closure and repossession of a property is a last resort but in this case the situation was unlikely to improve by any other means. It was the combined efforts of neighbours, Essex Police and South Anglia Housing that resolved this situation to the relief of our tenants and the wider community.”