Crime property on Blackpool's Grange Park closed to protect vulnerable residents

Police said the house was being used as a "cuckoo" address, whereby a dealer in drugs moves in with a vulnerable person, who is sometimes a regular drug user, and takes over the house for the purpose of storing and selling drugs.

In this case the police said the activities were in relation to Class A drugs.

The Closure Order proceedings began on Tuesday (October 26). and were the result of agencies working together.

The Order will last three months with an option to extend it should there be further issues.

Some of the tell-tale signs of cuckooing include a larger number of people entering and leaving the property, an increase in cars and bikes outside, signs or drug use and a possible increase in anti-social behaviour.

Police said: "This was the result of the Councils Public Protection Team, Blackpool Coastal Housing’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team and the Neighbourhood Policing team working in partnership to tackle anti-social behaviour and the exploitation of vulnerable people in the community."

Chief Supt Karen Edwards recently reiterated her commitment to keeping people safe and not tolerating criminality or anti-social behaviour and will work with the local community to bring to justice those who insist on causing harm to good law abiding citizens.

It follows an unrelated but similar project this year in which a number of other properties across Blackpool were shut down via the orders.

That was part of a crackdown to protect children in the town and saw takeaways, off-licences, B&Bs, and even brothels shut down.

The success of the three-month pilot scheme means it is likely to be continued.