Barnoldslick police call for public backing to shut down 'party houses' (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Barnoldslick police call for public backing to shut down 'party houses'

2:59pm Thursday 9th July 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(9)

PARTY animals in a Pendle town are being warned they could face losing their homes unless they curb their all-night bashes.

Police in Barnoldswick have been dealing with a number of complaints about anti-social gatherings, causing disturbance for long-suffering neigh-bours.

Now Sergeant Brian Strickland has revealed that Lancashire Constabulary may be considering closure orders for the worst offenders.

And residents in the Rainhall Road area, where the party animals are said to mainly live, are being urged to play their part in cracking down on the late-night nuisance.

Sgt Strickland told a Pendle Council West Craven committee meeting at the Rainhall Centre: “We will be residents about what they want to do about this problem. There are certainly several actions we can take – some criminal actions and some civil actions – but we need to have the help of the community.

“We are speaking to people in individual streets to get their support and we will target those who are offending. We can target some by anti-social behaviour orders, or closure orders, which is a means whereby the occupiers have to leave their home. We are considering this for one property not too far from here.”

Police in Burnley and Pendle have used closure orders previously to tackle anti-social behaviour. But these have mainly revolved around homes used as drug dens. The properties are usually sealed, with the tenants evicted.

Coun David Whipp added: “These parties can lead to criminal activity, especially damage like wing mirrors being knocked off, and not just the noise.”