House in Sale where weapons and class A drugs were found is shut down by Council

Trafford Council has secured the closure of a house in Sale, which was linked to serious criminal activity.

© GMP

Manchester Magistrates' Court granted the Full Closure Order on the house on Aintree Avenue, preventing access to the property for a total of three months.

The Court was satisfied that the premises were directly linked to serious criminal activity, including the discovery of a supply quantity of Class A drugs, a significant sum of cash and a large number of prohibited and offensive weapons, including machetes, knuckle dusters and a very large sword.

All individuals located at the address were subsequently charged with serious criminal offences, with two being remanded in custody and one bailed.

The order was granted on the basis that the premises presented an ongoing and significant risk to the local community if it were allowed to remain accessible.

The application represents part of Trafford Council's partnership responsibilities to address crime and disorder in the borough. The Council has been working in partnership with Greater Manchester Police in respect of issues related to organised criminal activity in the immediate area.

The closure will be implemented and subsequently monitored and enforced in partnership with the police. The Council’s Community Safety staff will continue to work with the landlord and relevant partners to manage risk and support a longer‑term resolution.

A spokesperson for Trafford Council: "The Council will not tolerate properties in our communities being used for serious criminal activity and this order shows that we mean business.

“Closure orders are an important tool for us as they allow us to close homes linked to criminal activity and restore confidence in the community. A big thanks to all our partners including Greater Manchester Police."

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “Officers from across Trafford have been working tirelessly with key local partners to address community concerns around this property.

“A coordinated team effort, which culminated in a warrant being executed, led to three arrests and a quantity of class A drugs and weapons being found. The closure order which has been granted shows that alongside our partners, we will continue to tackle concerns within the community to keep people safe.

“The partnership approach along with our communities’ input through reporting and understanding highlights we are all committed to continue tackling this kind of disruptive behaviour.”