Police close 'drug den' in Bideford High Street

POLICE have sent out a warning to drug dealers in Bideford with the closure of a flat in the High Street that had been used allegedly as a drug den. It is the third such closure in the town within 18 months and Inspector Sean Kenneally warned others dea

POLICE have sent out a warning to drug dealers in Bideford with the closure of a flat in the High Street that had been used allegedly as a 'drug den.'

It is the third such closure in the town within 18 months and Inspector Sean Kenneally warned others dealing drugs that they could be next.

The closure and boarding up of the Queen Anne's basement flat on Monday follows the closure of a ground floor flat in the same multi-occupancy building just a few weeks ago.

Insp Kenneally said that following the first closure the problem had continued, moving to the basement flat.

The closure order by Barnstaple magistrates means this flat will now be closed for three months.

They had worked with local residents and the landlord of the property and were now confident that this had been resolved.

"This sort of activity is disruptive to people living in the near vicinity. They expect action to be taken and can be confident that it will," he said. "If anyone has similar issues we would ask them to report them to us. We will look at further closures. Anyone looking to deal drugs in the Torridge area should be aware that we may be looking at them next. We are already looking at one further address.