Closure order placed on West Midlands flat after reports of exploitation and antisocial behaviour

A closure order has been placed on an address in the West Midlands following reports of exploitation and antisocial behaviour.

West Midlands Police worked with Citizen officers to place the order at Hillman House in Coventry city centre yesterday (Monday, August 24) after behaviour at one of the flats had been causing worry and disruption for neighbours over a number of months.

Police say the behaviour included unwanted visitors and drug use and that the order was used as a last resort after Citizen worked with West Midlands Police and other partner agencies to deal with the issues - including visiting the building, speaking to neighbours and keeping records of incidents.

Police issued warnings, carried out enforcement activity, and increased foot and mobile patrols in the area to reassure residents and reduce risks. Warrants were issued and a number of arrests were made over the last year.

After issues continued, Citizen then obtained a court order to close the flat, with support from the police.

Inspector Maria Perrin, who manages neighbourhood police teams in the city centre, added: “We have worked closely with Citizen to deal with concerns at this address over a number of months.

"Our St Michael's Neighbourhood Patrol Team is committed to working with partners including Citizen and with the local community to tackle antisocial behaviour and keep people safe.

"Your dedicated neighbourhood officers for the city centre will continue to host community meetings and work with housing providers to make sure all residents feel safe and can report concerns to us."

Citizen Director of Housing Care and Support Peter Gill said: “We’re committed to working with our partners to tackle antisocial behaviour and help keep our communities safe.

“In this case, we worked closely with the police to secure a closure order following a series of serious incidents that had a significant impact on local customers and the wider community.

“Our priority is always to work with customers to resolve issues wherever possible. However, there are occasions when enforcement action is necessary to protect neighbouring customers.

"Eviction is always a last resort and only happens after careful consideration and extensive work by our teams and partners. We hope the action taken will help local customers feel safer and more settled in their homes.

“If any of our customers are experiencing antisocial behaviour, we encourage them to contact us. We are committed to working with them and our partners to tackle issues and support people to feel safe in their neighbourhoods.”