Crack House closed
Police have closed down a crack house in Highbury after neighbours complained of anti-social behaviour by drug users. Local Lib Dem Councillors Terry Stacy, John Gilbert. A survey of residents in Highbury East ward revealed that drug-related antisocial behaviour was their biggest concern.
Sergeant Colin Francis, of the Highbury East Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “We are aware some residents are concerned about drug use. I would like to reassure them we are taking strong, decisive action by shutting down addresses connected to drugs and antisocial behaviour.”
Town Hall Lib Dem housing and crime chief Councillor Terry Stacy and Laura Willoughby took up the issue. The address, in Catherall Road, is just one of several homes on the Highbury Quadrant estate being monitored by police.
Officers requested permission to close the property after finding seven crack pipes and other evidence of drug use during a raid in August. After hearing anonymous evidence from residents, Highbury magistrates issued a closure order recently. The house will now remain shut for three months while Homes for Islington pursues court action to evict the tenant permanently.
The Highbury East Safer Neighbourhoods police team, that investigates drug use and anti-social behaviour, is targeting other addresses on Highbury Quadrant and in Highbury New Park in the hope of securing further closure orders. This move is fully supported by your local Liberal Democrat Councillors.
Cllr Terry Stacy said: “Our estate residents deserve to live their lives without having to put up with drugs. There is no place for this behaviour in Highbury, let alone Islington, so people be warned.”
He was joined by fellow Highbury East Councillor Laura Willoughby who said “Action speaks louder than words and we are delighted that the police took the action they did. The Council will do all it can to make sure places like this are closed and our estates are drugs free”
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