POLICE IN RAID ON CRACK DEN

Workers boarded up the flat in Jenner Way, Littlemoor, after the premises were stormed by officers in riot gear backed up by colleagues with sniffer dogs.

The action came minutes after Dorset Police successfully applied for a closure order at Weymouth Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The order, which lasts three months and prevents anyone from entering the premises, is the first to be granted in the area under the Anti-Social Behav-iour Act 2003 - and police warn they have more lined up in a bid to smash drug networks and bad behaviour.

Officers applied for the order because it was suspected the first floor two-bedroom Weymouth and Portland Housing flat had been used in connection with the use and supply of Class A drugs, heroin and crack cocaine.

The police anti-social behaviour team headed by Sergeant Nikki Pardey compiled a three-month dossier of evidence to back up the order. It details incidents of violence, abuse and late-night noise as well as a constant stream of visitors to the Littlemoor drugs den.

Although the evidence has been collected over three months police suspect drugs activity at the address for much longer. At Weymouth Magistrates' Court, David Coombe for the tenant Kenny McDonald, 40, said his client had not attended court and he was unable to offer magistrates an explanation.

Applying for the order, head of West Weymouth Police, Inspector Tony Rudd, said: "Premises such as Mr McDonald's flat are a great concern to the police not only because of the allegations of drug taking on the premises but also because of very real concerns for the quality of life of the people in the area.

"It is not right and proper that people should have to live in the vicinity of such goings on."

He said after the hearing: "This is just the start. We have the powers and we are going to use them. People have a right to live in a peaceful neighbourhood."

Riot police, who had back-up from armed officers, Community Support Officers and Special Constables, congregated in the Littlemoor shopping centre car park yesterday before being given the order to storm the flat.

They found no-one in the premises and after a search metal shutters were put up around the windows and the front door, which had been hanging off its hinges, was sealed.

The action was welcomed by one local resident, a single mum aged in her 20s, who said: "I can't believe it's finally happened, maybe now me and my child will get a decent night's sleep.

"I've lived here for over a year and it's been absolute hell.

"Sometimes I've had to call the police just so I can leave my flat because I've been so afraid of the people who have been hanging around.

"I've seen fights at night and have found needles and methadone bottles on the grass outside in the day.

"I've seen women go into that flat with young children in tow, it's been really frightening."

She added: "What I still want to know is why Weymouth and Portland Housing put me and my child near this property."

Sergeant Pardey said: "Residents in Jenner Way have suffered a serious nuisance for a number of years now. "Other courses of legal action have been ineffective because they require individual witnesses to stand up in court and speak up against the perpetrator. Many victims are unwilling to do this for fear of retribution.

"This particular piece of legislation allows professional witnesses, such as police officers or housing officers, to provide the evidence which takes the onus off of individual witnesses."

Littlemoor community beat officer PC Dave Harrison defended the area's reputation and said that 99 per cent of people living on the estate were law-abiding and pro-police.

He added: "We are actively targeting the individuals causing problems.

"Unfortunately we can't be on everyone's doorstep for 24 hours a day.

"We do encounter problems at Littlemoor but I would say it is largely low level crime.

"I would actively encourage people if they have any concerns to let us know about it."