Council secures shut down of local house of horrors
Wednesday 10 April 2019
A property in Dagenham, which has for quite some time been a source of worry and complaints from local businesses and residents, has finally been shut down after the council resorted to court action.
Over a period of time, local residents and shop owners reported issues to the council after they witnessed ongoing criminal and anti-social behaviour at 24A Whalebone Lane, Dagenham with evidence to suggest that the property was linked to prostitution, drug dealing, begging and other anti-social behaviour.
Following a joint operation between the council and the Police, a Closure Order was obtained at Barkingside Magistrates Court on Tuesday 2 April meaning that the council could close the property for three months, keeping out the occupier and others who had been using it for inappropriate behaviour. Any person that breaks the order will be arrested, and following a conviction, will be given a prison sentence or fined.
The property is owned by a charitable organisation who will now take back possession of the property.
“The property closure sends out a crystal clear message: we won’t tolerate criminal and anti-social behaviour in Barking and Dagenham and if you do it, we will come after you."
Reacting to the news, Councillor Margaret Mullane, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said: “This is an excellent result and I’m really pleased that the courts have finally deemed it fit to shut down this building. The criminal behaviour taking place was completely unacceptable and had a really negative effect on local residents and businesses in this area.
“The property closure sends out a crystal clear message: we won’t tolerate criminal and anti-social behaviour in Barking and Dagenham and if you do it, we will come after you.
“I would like to appeal to our residents that when such things are reported to us, the process from investigation, court proceedings to a final judgement could take anything from six months and upwards. So bear with us, we will get the desired result in the end.”
