First for Huddersfield police as Moldgreen house is slapped with a closure order

Jun 27 2009 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

In her statement to magistrates read by Mr Bell, PC Julie Diamond said that the behaviour of the occupants was having an adverse affect on neighbours.

“Residents are very frightened, they feel intimidated and are regularly woken up on a night by shouting and nuisance behaviour,” she said.

“It’s affecting their health and quality of life.

“Mothers walking their children to school no longer feel they can do this because they are regularly subjected to abuse and other offensive behaviour.”

And yesterday Huddersfield magistrates’ agreed to implement the town’s first closure order to try and end the on-going problems.

They agreed to the three-month closure order on the property, which means that anybody entering that property without the permission of police is breaking the law.

The action was taken by Kirklees Council and West Yorkshire Police using new powers under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act to seek closure orders.

The occupants were first told by police on Wednesday that they were seeking a court order to evict them and board-up their houses.

Meanwhile, a closure order against the occupants of 82 Church Lane, Moldgreen, has been adjourned.

Police had applied for a closure order for the house of Samantha Mallinson, 36, and her partner Karl Wood.

The case against them was adjourned until next Thursday, July 2.