More than 140 crack houses in Haringey have been closed down in less than four years, police figures reveal.
Since October 2004, officers from the Police Drugs Focus Unit for Haringey, together with Haringey Council's Antisocial Behaviour Action Team (ASBAT), have successfully obtained 141 crack house closure orders for addresses across the borough.
A closure order can be secured where there is
evidence of class-A drugs being used, produced or supplied on a property, resulting in associated disorder and
serious nuisance.
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Homes are then closed for a short period before being
re-let to people needing
accommodation.
Haringey police, who released the figures on Monday, are now encouraging more residents to come
forward with complete anonymity and expose drug dealers in their area.
Detective Sergeant Yasser Awad, said: "As a resident, you do not have to suffer in silence.
"Tell us what you know, and you could help to eliminate criminal and antisocial
behaviour associated with crack houses and make your street a safer place.
"We can guarantee your anonymity."
Councillor Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for enforcement and safer communities, said: "Many closure orders have been obtained like this and residents have welcomed the return to normality in their neighbourhood.
"Where a property becomes known as somewhere to buy drugs, the neighbours usually experience considerable nuisance and antisocial behaviour.
"Many are frightened, but wrongly believe if they report incidents to the police or the council they will be forced to go to court and may be
compromising their own safety. This is not true.
"So if people's lives are blighted by drug dealers, we want to remind them that you do not have to live like that - there is an alternative."
If you have information about drug misuse call
020 8808 1212.
If you have been affected by a crack house closure and would like to get help with a drug problem, contact The Drug Advisory Service Haringey on 020 8442 6497 or 020 7272 2757.
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