Regional: Court issues 'closure order' for Bicester property after 70 antisocial behaviour and loud music complaints

Thames Valley Police called out to Bicester address 14 times
Thames Valley Police called out to Bicester address 14 timesThames Valley Police called out to Bicester address 14 times
Thames Valley Police called out to Bicester address 14 times

The decibels are dropping for residents of a Bicester street where antisocial behaviour and loud music sparked over 70 complaints.

This is thanks to a closure order on a residence on Market End Way, which was secured by Cherwell District Council at a hearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday April 27.

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For the next three months, it is a crime for anyone other than the residents to enter the property.

Richard Webb, assistant director for Regulatory Services and Community Safety, said: “Antisocial behaviour causes distress and upset to its victims. When persistent and really serious behaviour like this occurs, we’re not afraid to take action.

“Neighbours of the property have suffered disturbance since January 2020. They have also shared with us their concerns about breaches of Covid regulations there. The nuisance has continued despite months of enforcement work by the council and in defiance of Thames Valley Police, who has been called out to the address 14 times.”

It is the first such order obtained by Cherwell District Council under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The measure follows an escalating series of interventions over the past 18 months.

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Due to the ongoing seriousness of the behaviour and its impact on the community, the council had served a 48-hour closure notice on the property. This has now been upgraded by the magistrate to the three-month closure order.

In addition to the 14 calls to the police, the council received 44 recordings of noise disturbance originating from the property, submitted by users of the Noise App, and a further 15 service requests.

Officers assess noise disturbance based on the time, frequency and type of disturbance. People defying the order will now be guilty of a criminal offence and could be fined, or face prison.

Richard Webb added: “We have secured this order with the full backing of the police. My hope is that it gives the affected neighbours some peace and quiet and the time for the residents of the property to resolve the issues.”

For anyone wishing to report noise complaints, the Noise App can be downloaded free of charge through Google Play or the App Store.