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Police given special powers to arrest at east London block
Police have been given special powers to arrest people at a social housing block for older people in east London following concern about anti-social behaviour.
Thames Magistrates Court has agreed to impose a three-month closure order at Bentworth Court in Bethnal Green, Tower Hamlets.
Tower Hamlets Council and its ALMO Tower Hamlets Homes (THH), which manages the block, have helped police obtain the order.
This is the first time such a measure has been taken at a social housing estate in the borough.
It means anyone without a “lawful reason” to be in the block’s public areas and committing anti-social behaviour could face three months in prison.
One person has already been arrested under the order.
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THH said a consultation found residents at Bentworth Court, which is not supported housing but is designed for older tenants, were “overwhelmingly” supportive of the move.
Residents have reported drug use, threatening behaviour and defecation in communal areas by people sleeping rough in the block.
Susmita Sen, chief executive of THH, said: “This is a difficult and unusual situation and we only took this measure as a last resort. We had to find a way to stop the lives of residents being made a misery by people not living in the block.
“We gave our full support to the police in applying for this order only when we were sure we had the full backing of residents.”
Under Section 80 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, closure orders can be imposed in specific areas experiencing “disorder”, or where disorder is anticipated.
Police are able to make an application to extend the order for another three months before it expires.
Darren Baxter, an inspector at the Metropolitan Police who applied for the order, said: “A number of residents in Bentworth Court are vulnerable due to age or disability.
“This closure represents a new way to tackle anti-social behaviour and drug use in partnership with the council and Tower Hamlets Homes and will improve the quality of life of our residents.”
