Waterhead property at the centre of criminality and anti-social behaviour shut down

A Closure Order has been secured on a Waterhead flat following reports of drug dealing, criminal damage, theft and noise nuisance.

The occupant of a property on Rosehill Court was given warnings by officers from Oldham Council, First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to stop their behaviour, but they were ignored.

To protect the public from further issues, the council successfully secured the Closure Order at Tameside Magistrates Court.

The three-month order means that the tenant and any visitors cannot enter the property.

If anyone breaches the order they can be arrested and face an unlimited fine and/or up to six months in prison.

Emma Barton, Deputy Chief Executive of Oldham Council, said: “Oldham Council and our partners will not allow Waterhead residents to have their lives ruined by the irresponsible and criminal actions of a small minority.

“A Closure Order is not undertaken lightly, but put yourself in the shoes of this tenant’s neighbours and the toll it takes on them.

"The community desperately needed respite.

"They’ve had to put up with criminality and bad behaviour happening right on their doorstep.

“I’m sure the action we’ve taken will be welcomed by the community and I would like to thank everyone who has played a part in bringing this issue to a successful end.”

Sarah Aldred, Director of Customer Experience at First Choice Homes Oldham, said: “Ensuring our customers feel safe in their homes is a priority for us.

"Crime and antisocial behaviour have no place in our communities, and we won’t tolerate our homes being used for such behaviour.

“We are grateful to those who reported their concerns and it highlights the importance of reporting anti-social behaviour.

“We continue to collaborate closely with Oldham Council and Greater Manchester Police to safeguard our communities, and this Closure Order should serve as a reminder that we will always take action to protect our customers.”

Police Sergeant Georgia Mansfield, from Greater Manchester Police’s Oldham district, said: “A co-ordinated team effort involving a number of dedicated officers has meant we have managed to get this closure order granted with key local partners.

“We have worked exceptionally hard with the local neighbourhood, housing officers and community safety in relation to this.

“The partnership approach along with our communities’ input through reporting and understanding hopefully highlights we are all committed to continue tackling this kind of disruptive behaviour that has a criminal element to it.”

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