A PENHILL property has been sealed by police in a bid to tackle drug dealing in the area.

The three-month partial closure order for a property in Seagry Court was granted at Swindon Magistrates' Court yesterday.

It aims to safeguard the occupant and protect neighbours from criminal activity.

Anyone other than the resident and those named on the notice will be prevented from entering the property. Anyone else could be committing an offence and may be arrested.

Neighbourhood officer for the North Swindon area PC Nick Payne said: “Closure orders of this nature enable us to protect the resident and prevent drugs gangs entering or taking over the property and exploiting vulnerable people.

“The impact on those living nearby has also been huge and we hope this brings some relief to them.

“The order will remain in place for three months – during this time we will continue to work with the resident, partner agencies, including Swindon Borough Council, to come up with a long-term solution to the problem.

“This is the third order of this nature that Swindon Police have worked with partner agencies to obtain so far in the first month of 2020.

“Last year we had over 30 orders put in place and it has been an exceptionally effective tool in protecting the most vulnerable in our society and disrupting destructive behaviour that can really have a negative impact on the whole community.”