Court grants closure order at Great Yarmouth flat following serious anti-social behaviour

At a hearing last week, Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court granted the three-month order on the home in Isabella Square. It means no one - including the tenant - can remain in the property. The order can, if necessary, be extended by a further three months.

The council said securing the Full Closure Order required a multi-agency approach involving police and local residents and action was taken to protect the community, which has been affected by the anti-social behaviour.

Anyone who breaches the order and is found in the flat would be committing a criminal offence and, if found guilty, faces prison or an unlimited fine.

Councillor Graham Plant, deputy leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council and portfolio holder for operational property and asset management, said: "Obtaining these closure orders requires a lot of hard work and close partnership working. I'd like to thank Norfolk Police for their ongoing support to help our tenancy services team reduce anti-social behaviour in our communities.

''We are pleased the courts continue to take these offences seriously and hope this particular order will alleviate the concerns of people in the area and act as a catalyst for meaningful change by the perpetrators.''

PC Chusonis, of Norfolk Police, said: ''Great Yarmouth police will always support our partners when taking action against anti-social behaviour. This is a great win for the community and hopefully shows perpetrators that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated. Within Great Yarmouth we will always work in partnership to make the town a better place for everyone.''

The Full Closure Order was made on the grounds that:

• A person has engaged, or (if the order is not made) is likely to engage, in disorderly, offensive or criminal behaviour on the premises, or;
• The use of the premises has resulted, or (if the order is not made) is likely to result, in serious nuisance to members of the public, or;
• There has been, or (if the order is not made) is likely to be, disorder near those premises associated with the use of those premises,
• The order is necessary to prevent the behaviour, nuisance or disorder from continuing, recurring or occurring.