Property that housed £30,000 of heroin receives closure order

Devon & Cornwall Police have been successful in obtaining a closure order on a property in Torquay following reports of drug dealing and anti social behaviour.

On Tuesday 11 March, the Force obtained a three-month full closure order at a property on Warberry Road. The order will prevent anyone from entering the address, excluding the landlord.

PC Dan Taylor said: “This address has caused a number of ongoing problems for people in the community, which had taken a toll on their mental health and wellbeing.

“We received reports of drug dealing, constant streams of people entering the property, including groups who we suspected were taking drugs while visiting the address, and reports of individuals causing a disturbance outside the property. This persistent activity had led to residents feeling anxious and intimidated in their own homes.”

Prior to the closure order being granted, a stop search was carried out on an individual who was known to frequent the address. This resulted in the seizure of thousands of pounds worth of Class A heroin. A further search was then carried out at the address on Warberry Road where he was suspected to have been storing drugs, the search located approximately £30,000 worth of heroin. The 45-year-old man was charged with possession with intent to supply on 8 February. He is remanded in prison awaiting trial. 

“Applying for closure orders aren’t a decision that we take lightly,” said Machaela O’Brien, who headed up the legal team working on the case.

“Significant work takes place beforehand with the tenant in an effort to stop this behaviour from happening.

“When this approach doesn’t work, we have to look at other ways to disrupt the behaviour in the interest of keeping local people safe and preventing them from experiencing further harm.

“People’s homes are their safe spaces, and we don’t want anyone to ever feel nervous or intimidated in the area they live in. That’s why it was so important for us to take proactive action like this.

“Residents reported, we listened and acted quickly. Thank you to everyone who came forward. I hope this shows people in the community that we are toughening our response to drugs in response to their concerns.”

If you’re experiencing similar problems or are experiencing any behaviour that causes you distress or has a negative impact on the safety of the community, please report it to the police.

You can report directly on the Devon & Cornwall Police website. If a crime is taking place, call 999.

If you have been affected by crime, please visit victimcare-dc.org to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system. You can also call Victim Support on 080816 89111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.