MAGISTRATES have closed a Wisbech house, which was doubling up as an unofficial off-licence, for eight weeks. Yesterday s ruling for 3 Windsor Drive came after police used anti-social behaviour laws to serve a closure notice. The magistrates ruling means

WEB EXCLUSIVE by: TOM JACKSON

MAGISTRATES have closed a Wisbech house, which was doubling up as an unofficial off-licence, for eight weeks.

The occupants will now have to find a new home, after yesterday's ruling shut down 3 Windsor Drive.

Police used anti-social behaviour laws to serve the closure notice.

Nobody is allowed inside the house until September 22. If anyone does go inside during the closure, they could face up to 51 weeks in prison and/or a fine of up to �5,000

Sgt Dave Bax said after the hearing: "The legislation allows the police to act quickly and return a neighbourhood back to some sense of normality.

"Owners, tenants and landlords of houses, businesses, licensed premises, and other areas where a significant and persistent disorder or serious nuisance is being perpetrated or is associated with the premises, could risk similar measures.

"We will attempt interventions, but where this doesn't work we will actively pursue such orders in the fight against anti-social behaviour and drug dealing."

The order came after police received constant reports of visitors, noise and disturbance from the address.

In June, a search warrant executed at the address found a large stock of cigarettes, home-made vodka and a number of passports and bank cards.

On Tuesday last week, police and customs officers served a temporary notice, while officers waited for the full order to be approved.

At the time, Sgt Bax said: "It was basically a 24/7 off-licence that is not licensed."