Merton Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) team has reacted quickly to shut down a premises in Mitcham which had been disturbing residents through a series of unlicensed music events during February. 

Members of the Safer Merton team were initially alerted by an email to their ASB inbox by a local resident on 14 February, complaining of parties being held at 265 Commonside East, CR4. 

Working in partnership with Pollards Hill police, a Safer Merton team led by an ASB officer obtained impact statements from residents who had been affected by three successive weekends of disturbance from the property.  

With the help of the Council’s legal team, South London Legal Partnership, Safer Merton was granted a premises closure order on the property at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on 3 March – less than three weeks after events were first reported – under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. 

To ensure the prevention of further events, Safer Merton has overseen the changing of the locks on the property to secure it for the three-month duration of the closure order. 

Councillor Agatha Akyigyina, Cabinet Member for Partnerships, Public Safety and Tackling Crime, said: “This prompt action to shut down an unlicensed premises which was causing residents disturbance and leading to disorder shows how committed Merton is to reducing crime and anti-social behaviour. 

“I’d like to thank members of the local police, our legal team, the South London Legal Partnership, and especially the proactive approach of the ASB Officer and their effective partnership working.” 

If you have any issues around anti-social behaviour, Safer Merton’s ASB team can be contacted by telephone on 020 8274 490 or by email at asbu@merton.gov.uk.