Pubdate: Mon, 18 Jul 2005
Source: Yorkshire Post Today (UK)
Copyright: 2005 Johnston Press New Media
Contact:  http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3780
Author: Paul Whitehouse

ACTION TO SHUT 'CRACK HOUSES'

POLICE in South Yorkshire have taken a leading role nationally in
closing down so-called "crack houses" used by drug dealers and addicts.

The force secured its latest success at a property in Sherwood Avenue,
Askern, Doncaster, which was boarded up on the orders of a court
following a request from police.

They were also granted an anti-social behaviour order against David
Sheldon, the council tenant who had lived there. He has now been
barred from entering streets around his old address for the next two
years.

He is also barred from living anywhere in Askern and faces a catalogue
of other restrictions.

South Yorkshire Police has become one of the most active forces in the
country in taking such action, accounting for almost 10 per cent of
all such actions in the last year.

In that time 130 orders were issued nationally, with 12 of them in
this force area.

Police are warning that more cases are planned in the next few months
because so far they have proved highly effective in dealing with problems.

Insp Colin Lomas said: "The closure lasts for three months and we can
apply for a further closure if there are reasons to do so.

"The housing department will be looking at getting the tenancy
rescinded and we will hand the premises back to them so they can put
in someone decent."

Police regard applying for closure notices as a last resort, after
trying less severe tactics to control problems.

"We owe it to the public to protect them from the harassment they can
be put under in these cases," said Insp Lomas. 
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MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFlorida)