Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Children as young as 12 ‘queued to use drug den’

The police received 20 reports of drug dealing at the property between June and November last year

Eleanor Sly
Wednesday 27 January 2021 15:56 GMT
Comments
Between 2017 and 2019 Middlesbrough had one of the highest rates of drug deaths in England 
Between 2017 and 2019 Middlesbrough had one of the highest rates of drug deaths in England  (PA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A drug den was being frequented by children as young as 12, a council has reported.

The terraced house is located on Selbourne Street in Newport, Middlesbrough. Metal screens had been erected to cover the doors and windows.

Children were also seen there, forming a queue outside the house with other users.

Middlesbrough Council worked with Cleveland Police to carry out the shutdown operation after they received a series of complaints.

This included more than 20 reports of drug dealing at the house between June and November 2020. Visitors to the den would call to pick up cannabis and pills at all hours of the day.

There were also complaints of drug dealers fighting in the street, disturbing the peace whilst they used bats and poles to attack each other.

Officers had previously found cannabis at the property in a raid in November. Methadone, a substitute for heroin, was also found there in a separate police operation last month.

Middlesbrough Council said that a sign found inside the house read: "no weed, don't knock."

The house on Selbourne Street received a closure order for three months and was boarded up on Tuesday. Two people currently living there are subject to further police inquiries.

Mayor of Middlesbrough, Andy Preston, said: "This latest closure is sending them [the drug dealers] a clear message that they're not welcome and will be removed from decent, law-abiding neighbourhoods."

Mr Preston also tweeted: “There's no place in our communities for the sort of people who peddle fear, misery & addiction.”

Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that, between 2017 and 2019, Middlesbrough had one of the highest numbers of drug deaths in the North East. 

Its rate of 21.3 per 100,000 people is one of the highest in England three times higher than the national rate of 7.1 deaths per 100,000.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in