A SUSPECTED crack house has been closed down in Farnham - after five people were arrested on Monday night last week in connection with possession of class A and class C drugs. The closure order was obtained following a joint application made by Surrey Police and Thames Valley Housing Association. The order was granted at South West Surrey Magistrates Court in Guildford following an application by police and the housing association, which owns the property at 6 The Elms, The Fairfield. After carrying out warrants under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 at two flats, 6 The Elms, and 3 The Elms, police were able to obtain a "crack house" closure notice on flat 6, with a view to seeking a similar notice against flat 3 in the future. It was only the second time police have taken such action anywhere in the county. This notice prohibits anyone, except those residing at the property, from entering. The application for a closure order was then presented before magistrates, who granted the order with immediate effect. This means no one will be allowed to enter the property and it will be sealed, giving Thames Valley Housing Association the time to obtain an eviction order against the tenants. Contractors immediately began work on boarding up the premises. Consultation has also taken place with Waverley Borough Council. A team of Waverley officers had been putting the application together since receiving information which suggested the two flats were involved in the supply of class A drugs, particularly crack cocaine and heroin. On researching the information and liasing with Thames Valley Housing Association, they discovered that a high level of anti-social behaviour, including numerous visitors to the flats at all hours, was also occurring in addition to the drug use. This was becoming of increasing concern to neighbouring residents, causing them considerable distress and nuisance. On the weekend before Christmas, residents reported visitors trying to enter one of the flats at 4-30 am. After police searched the area, two knives were found nearby on the road and in a garden, and £300 cash was found under a car. A visitor to one of the other flats had also been offered crack cocaine for money. The application for the "crack house closure" included statements provided by the housing association, which also acted as professional witnesses on behalf of other tenants, who felt intimidated and too frightened to give direct statements, as well as statements from police officers. Search warrants were executed at the two flats just after 7 pm on Monday night last week, with five people connected with the addresses arrested. Those arrested included a 21-year-old and a 23-year-old man, who were arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs, a 43-year-old man arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis plants, a 35-year-old man arrested on possession of class C drugs, and a 36-year-old man arrested on warrant. All have been bailed to January 31 pending further enquiries. Searches of the two properties uncovered an amount of what is believed to be herbal cannabis, a number of white tablets and a selection of equipment associated with taking and mixing class A drugs, as well as a driving licence and five credit cards in names other than those resident at either flat. Joint police and housing association visits will continue to be carried out at flat 3 to prevent any further problems, with a view to a closure order being sought if further disorder and nuisance occurs at the address. Officers will also be patrolling the area to reassure neighbouring residents and to check that visitors are not still attempting to gain access to the property. "Crack house closures" can be obtained under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act and a successful application must prove the following: class A Drugs are connected with the premises which has been involved in the production, dealing or use of the drugs (the application above was made on the basis of "use"); it must be demonstrated that disorder or serious nuisance is associated with the use of the premises and the court must decide the granting of the order is necessary to prevent the occurrence of further disorder or serious nuisance. West Surrey Superintendent Kevin Deanus, speaking after the successful application for the closure notice, said: said: "These powers allow us to take rapid and effective action against a specific form of drug activity which causes great harm to local communities. "We are not afraid to take this action to curtail suspected criminal activity, particularly when it is causing so much misery to neighbouring residents. "Surrey Police continues to invest in local policing and today's excellent result reinforces the value of having local officers working closely with their local communities. "The quality of evidence provided by the officers and supported by the community was commended by the court. Our successful application today is also a direct result of the excellent partnership we share with Thames Valley Housing Association, who we have worked closely with throughout."
