Leavesden Road flat closed down after arrests in raid

Herts Police have today (November 24) confirmed that a Leavesden Road flat is now off-limits for three months and two teenage males were arrested during a 6am raid at the address on November 16.

Officers detained two men before the search revealed “a significant amount” of heroin and cannabis, four knives, a stolen vehicle, cloned registration plates, cash, three electric bikes, and phones they suspect are linked to county lines drug dealing.

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A 19-year-old and a 17-year-old were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class heroin and cannabis, knife possession in a private place, theft of a motor vehicle, stealing disabled badges from a vehicle, fraud by false representation, and affray.

The affray charge is linked to a clash in Watford on November 5. Both suspects are from Watford and have been released on bail until February 15.

Sergeant Phil Smith said: “We had intelligence to suggest that electric bikes were being used antisocially as part of suspected drug dealing activity in our town, and further information indicated that this could be attributed to county lines.

“This result is an excellent example of collaboration in the Watford Community Safety Partnership, with partners working together to improve the quality of life for local residents.”

Police secured the closure order in St Albans Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (November 22), after working in partnership with Watford Borough Council and Origin Housing for months.

Pictures from the flat released by police. (Image: Herts Police)

The sergeant added: “Proactive intervention such as this is vital to protect the vulnerable members of our community, bring offenders to justice and rid our streets of illegal drugs and weapons.

"We hope this activity shows that we will do everything in our power to prevent violence and criminality from blighting our communities.”

Herts Police encouraged anyone who suspects drug-related crime is going on in their local area to report it at herts.police.uk/report or by calling the non-emergency number 101.