Nottingham shuts down Radford drug house and city centre Debenhams site
The curtains at 31 Manston Mews in Radford have long been a focal point for local anxiety, marking a property that residents say became a magnet for drug use and disorder. This week, the front door of the address was effectively sealed as Nottingham authorities moved to reclaim the peace for the surrounding neighborhood. The action forms part of a dual-pronged enforcement effort that also targets one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks: the former Debenhams building on Long Row.
Nottingham City Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team, alongside Nottinghamshire Police and Nottingham City Council Housing Services, secured the closure orders following a string of incidents that had left the local community feeling vulnerable. The move signals an escalation in how the city manages both residential hotspots and large-scale derelict commercial sites that have become targets for criminal activity.
Radford residents see action on Manston Mews drug concerns
For the people living near Manston Mews, the closure order brings a long-awaited reprieve. The property had been the subject of persistent complaints regarding serious anti-social behaviour, including reports of prostitution and ongoing public disorder. These activities did not just create noise; they fostered an environment of fear that impacted the daily lives of families in the Radford area.
Evidence gathered by the Anti-Social Behaviour Team and Nottinghamshire Police highlighted how the property had become a hub for nuisance. Under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, the closure order now legally prevents anyone from entering the premises for a specified period. This legal tool is designed specifically for cases where criminal behaviour is so persistent that standard policing interventions have failed to provide a permanent solution for the community.
Safety risks at the former Debenhams building on Long Row
While the Radford case focuses on residential disorder, the action at the former Debenhams building addresses a growing public safety crisis in the city centre. Since the department store closed its doors, the site has become a frequent target for trespassers. Chief Inspector Kylie Davies confirmed that police are consistently called to the location due to children and young people breaking into the derelict building.
These intruders have been spotted climbing onto the roof of the massive structure, posing a lethal risk to themselves and a significant danger to pedestrians on the busy streets below. The new closure order provides Nottinghamshire Police with immediate powers to deal with anyone attempting to enter the site. By securing the perimeter legally, authorities hope to stop the cycle of criminal damage and prevent a potential tragedy involving the city’s youth.
How closure orders work to protect Nottingham neighborhoods
Councillor Matt Shannon, Executive Member for Community Protection, emphasized that these orders are not a first resort but a necessary measure when community safety is at stake. The process involves a rigorous evidence-gathering phase where the impact on the community is weighed against the rights of those using the property. In both the Radford and city centre cases, the courts agreed that the level of nuisance and risk to the public justified the total closure of the sites.
This partnership approach between the council and the police aims to tackle the root causes of urban decay and disorder. By removing the physical space where these activities occur, the authorities can disrupt criminal networks and provide a window of time for more permanent solutions to be established, whether through housing management or redevelopment plans for the Debenhams site.
Chief Inspector Davies noted that the closure order for the Debenhams site is a vital tool for protecting vacant buildings from becoming magnets for unlawful activity. The police have stated they will not hesitate to use the full extent of these powers to ensure that those who ignore the closure face legal consequences. For the residents of Radford and the shoppers in the city centre, the immediate result is a visible reduction in the disorder that has shadowed these locations for months.
Source: Nottingham City Council
