Hartlepool Drug Den Closed by Court Order

Duke St, Hartlepool

The court today ordered the boarding up of yet another property, this time in Hartlepool's Duke Street, as the war on crime & Anti Social Behaviour Continues.....

30th May 2025

Teesside Magistrates Court this week issued yet another closure order on a Hartlepool property plagued by drugs and antisocial behaviour — this time targeting a house located in Hartlepool's on Duke Street.

The order, secured jointly by Hartlepool Borough Council and Cleveland Police, follows repeated reports of drug dealing, criminal damage, and serious disruption to local residents’ lives. The property, which is privately owned by a landlord, is said to have become a magnet for crime and disorder, including allegations of vehicle break-ins, vandalism, and drug supply from nearby alleyways.

Locals say the property’s windows had recently been smashed, and the front door left badly damaged & insecure — a tell-tale sign of the turmoil brought to the local community. Some residents were reported to have felt unsafe just even walking past it.

This closure order is just the latest in a series of action taken by both Hartlepool Borough Council & Cleveland Police, as the war to retake the streets continues, where its claimed similar action was taken recently at addresses in Byron Street and Lowthian Road, both just a short walk from Duke Street, with all three properties said to be privately rented, raising serious questions about landlord responsibility and a lack of enforcement until matters spiral out of control.

As usual, its been left to the public to foot the bill — where its claimed the latest closure order is set to cost locals an estimated £1,700 in legal costs, not including police time, officer hours, and the impact on local services.

The closure order will remain in place for three months, during which time anyone found inside the property could face up to six months in prison or an unlimited fine.

Residents are encouraged to report any breaches to Cleveland Police on 101, or 999 in emergencies. You can also speak out anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111