Following an intelligence operation going on over several months, Ealing Police continued their attack on anti-social behaviour emanating from around the Old Bill in Hanwell by closing down the Old Bill public house.

In March 2006, a 19 year old man from Hanwell, Scott Baker, was sentenced to three years in prison for possession of 177.5 grams of Cocaine with intent to supply which has an estimated street value of £18,000. Mr Baker had been linked by police to drugs activity in and around the pub.

On the evening of Friday 24th March, Ealing Borough Police 45 officers descended on the Old Bill Public House, Copley Close in Hanwell with a drugs search warrant. They seized 40 grammes of cocaine, a Class A drug. During the search police also recovered three knives, rolls of clingfilm and discarded national lottery wraps consistent with cocaine use in the bar area. A small set of electronic scales and a tub of bicarbonate soda were recovered under a washbasin in the ladies toilets, and a large quantity of national lottery wraps and rolled up cardboard tubes were recovered under a washbasin in the gents' toilets.

Four people in their forties/early fifties were arrested on the premise for drugs offences. Three were arrested for possession with intent to supply and are currently on bail until May, and a 50 year old man was given an adult caution for possession of cocaine.

On 11th April, Ealing Borough Police officers issued a closure notice to the residents and proprietor of The Old Bill. The Licensee contested the order at the Magistrates Court, but was unsuccessful.

Chief Inspector Des Rock , Ealing Borough Police in charge of today's operation said:

�Over the last couple of years the quality of life and daily routines of the residents in Copley Close, has been disrupted by anti social behaviour and drugs activities directly linked with the Old Bill Public House. This was clearly recognized by the courts as they took little deliberation in granting the closure order.

Closing these types of premises is vitally important to people living in the local area, as it improves people's quality of life by helping to reduce crime and disorder in the area. It also sends a positive message to those licensed premises, which allow drugs activity to take place that it will not be tolerated.

Ealing borough police and the local authority will now work closely with the leaseholder, Trust Inns, to ensure certain improvements were made to the business practices, management and security of the venue to help alleviate the problems of anti social behaviour and drugs activity, which forced the police action initially.

The successful outcome of this closure is a testament to how invaluable it is that the community continues to provide the police and the council with intelligence and information surrounding drugs activity and Anti Social Behaviour. Drugs use and supply is damaging to our community and I would urge the residents of Ealing Borough to continue to provide information to the police to help make a difference in our fight against drugs activity on the borough.�

Shortly after the raid, police applied for a Dispersal order in the area to enable police to move on young people who are out after 9 pm or causing a disturbance.

May 4, 2006