A judge has ruled that anyone entering the communal areas of 16 housing blocks in Barking will be arrested after being plagued with antisocial behaviour (ASB).

Bateman and Heenans Close in Barking have been target areas for ASB and have included people gaining access to the blocks to sleep, use and sell drugs, have sex and intimidate residents.

Enforcement officers from Barking and Dagenham Council and the Police have been working hard over a while to build up an evidence pack to take to court, which has included meeting with residents to find out how they have been impacted by the continuous ASB.

Officers took the Closure Order application to court on Tuesday 9 January and the judge granted it for both locations for three months and then an application will go in for a further three months.

This means that anyone who cannot justify why they are within the perimeter of the blocks or are loitering in or outside the communal areas will be arrested.

Residents of the blocks were fully aware of the action the council and police were taking and were fully in support.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “Everybody should be able to live in their home peacefully and not have to worry about antisocial behaviour or feel threatened or intimidated by others, especially if they have no business being there.

“I’m really pleased with the action we have taken to put a stop to this at Bateman and Heenans Close. I hope this gives residents a bit of peace of mind and can see that we are taking this behaviour very seriously – it may take time, but I want to reassure our residents that we take their concerns seriously and will always act on it.”

Superintendent David Rhodes said: “Local officers have been working with the local authority to secure this closure order. We want people to feel safe where they live and not fearful due to others making the area they live undesirable.

“This is a clear message to those intent on committing crime and anti-social behaviour that this will not be tolerated. The order is the first step and officers from the area will be patrolling and enforcing the order along with colleagues from the local authority.”

The council is now working closely with the police to make sure that robust enforcement action is taken against any individual who breaches the Closure Orders.