POLICE today welcomed a court's decision to evict a 65-year-old Ipswich man from his sheltered accommodation flat after it became a haunt for drug users.

POLICE today welcomed a court's decision to evict a 65-year-old Ipswich man from his sheltered accommodation flat after it became a haunt for drug users.

As reported in The Evening Star on Tuesday, Suffolk police applied for the closure order on the Hanover Court flat of Alan Govey after elderly neighbours became scared to leave their homes.

Inspector Dave Dring, who is responsible for the east of Ipswich, welcomed the move to evict Govey.

He said: "Our intelligence and other evidence suggests there has been a considerable amount of activity around the drugs scene from this flat.

"You've got elderly residents there in their twilight years looking for comfort in a secure environment and they're faced with the worst kind of anti-social behaviour.

"Whilst it does seem a drastic step it's not a decision we've taken lightly."

Monday's order by magistrates will prevent anyone from living in the flat for three months.

It is the first time such an order has been used in the east of Ipswich and similar orders have only been imposed about six times in the town since anti-social behaviour legislation was introduced in 2003.

Suffolk police today warned similar orders would be sought in the future to protect Ipswich residents.

"This is a piece of legislation to give the community a break from this sort of activity. It doesn't pretend to be a solution to drug use.

"It's something we are more than prepared to do if the situation demands it."

N Have you been affected by the scourge of drugs near your home? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk