Stevenage police have secured a closure order forbidding anyone from entering a tower block flat following eight months of reported drug dealing and anti-social behaviour.

The three-month closure order for the flat at Brent Court, off Silam Road, was sought after complaints from neighbours about anti-social behaviour and crime including drug dealing prompted a police investigation.

The order from Stevenage magistrates will ensure the flat is totally sealed. Any unauthorised person who enters will be arrested and could be jailed, fined up to £5,000, or both.

Stevenage safer neighbourhood team Sgt Duncan Hall said: “This closure order is a result of hard work collaborating with Stevenage Borough Council, anti-social behaviour teams, and housing officers.

“We executed a successful warrant in Brent Court on November 10 and, combined with months of intelligence, successfully achieved a closure order on the property.

“We hope this will help reduce the anti-social behaviour and drug abuse associated with Brent Court and will provide a better quality of life for the residents.

“We want to thank the members of the public who provided intelligence associated with this issue during one of our ‘street-meets’ where we spoke to residents about life in Brent Court. Without this information we would not have had such an effective outcome, proving the public’s help can be invaluable as part of our investigations.”

Safer neighbourhood team Insp Simon Tabert added: “By taking this action to now fully close the address, we hope to provide neighbours with some respite from the on-going issues. The Community Safety Partnership has worked extremely hard to gather evidence to support the application.”

The borough council’s portfolio member for housing and older people, Councillor Jeanette Thomas, said: “We have held surgery-type events at our flat blocks for residents to come and talk to us about any concerns they might have.

As a result of their concerns and through working closely with the police, we have been able to take action against tenants who have caused a nuisance to their neighbours and the wider community from the property.

“This action demonstrates that together we will not tolerate those who cause distress or harassment to their neighbours. No-one should have to live with anti-social behaviour.”