Action under way to close house following drug raid

LEEDS Council and West Yorkshire Police are applying to close an alleged crack house in the Armley area of Leeds following a raid.

Neighbours complained they were being plagued by drug-related anti-social behaviour at 54 First Avenue in Armley, Leeds. A search warrant was executed on Sunday and the premises closed.

On Tuesday an application was made by the council, the police and West North West Homes Leeds (WNWHL) at Leeds Magistrates Court for closure of the property under Section 2 of the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003. The case was adjourned for two weeks.

If granted, the property will remain closed for a period of three months during which time WNWHL, one of the three arms length management organisations that manage and maintain council housing on behalf of Leeds Council, will apply for possession of the property.

On December 21 a search warrant was executed at the same address, which is a WNWHL property.

Two women are currently on bail for drug offences relating to the raid.

Since the warrant, local residents have reported anti-social behaviour around the property with drug users said to be abusing residents, an increase in burglaries in the area and drug users mixing with parents and children at the nearby Castleton Primary school.

Used needles have been discarded onto the school playing fields.

The pathways leading to 54 First Avenue have also become littered with rubbish and discarded drug paraphernalia, un-capped syringes, citric acid packets and burnt foil.

Coun Les Carter, Leeds City Council’s executive board member for community safety and chair of Safer Leeds, said: “We have already had cause to close this address down before and I’m sorry to see the message has not got through.

“What has been going on at First Avenue is unacceptable and we will take whatever action we need to address it.”

Sgt John Glennon from the West Yorkshire Police’s north west division said the police along with Leeds City Council had acted on the concerns raised by the local community, and were determined to act in a positive manner.