POLICE have made the drastic decision to close a house in Benfleet because of nuisance behaviour and ongoing drug dealing.

The closure order, put in place by the Castle Point community policing team, closed the home in Queensmere following continuous reports of antisocial behaviour.

The order prevents anyone entering the property for three months, and anyone who does could face jail.

Neighbours in the street made continuous calls to police about the exploitation of a vulnerable person living there and drug dealing from the home.

The officers served the order on Monday after Castle Point Council made a successful application at Southend Magistrates’ Court.

A woman at the property was ordered to leave and police have since secured the premises.

Essex Police Castle Point and Rochford Community Policing Team posted to Facebook to say: “Following ongoing reports of anti-social behaviour, exploitation of a vulnerable person and criminal activity at a council owned address in Benfleet, a closure order under section 80 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime & Policing Act 2014 was sought by Castle Point Council and authorised by the court on April 16.”

The order prevents anyone from entering the property for three-months and anyone caught breaching it could face jail.

Sgt Mark McQuade, from the policing team, said: “We will not tolerate any form of anti-social behaviour or drug dealing in our community and we will use all the powers open to us to tackle it. I would like to thank Castle Point Council for their assistance in quickly securing this order through the courts.

“I would also like to re-assure people that we work closely with our partners to protect the most vulnerable in our communities while disrupting those who choose to destabilise our communities by persistently offending.”

David Marchant, chief executive of Castle Point Council said: “We obtained a closure order for the premises under the ASB Crime and Disorder Act 2014, in order to safeguard a vulnerable resident and prevent further serious anti-social behaviour.

“The council will not tolerate nuisance and disorder and will continue to work with Essex Police and other partners to combat anti-social behaviour and criminal behaviour.”

Anyone with concerns about drug dealing in their street can call Essex Police on 101 or crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.