MORE suspected crack houses may be shut down.

Police are looking at a small number of homes in the Maidstone area where they think class A drugs such as heroin and cocaine may be being used, supplied or produced, and why they are consider to be a magnet for nuisance behaviour.

The news follows the recent closure of a crack house in Sunningdale Court, off Square Hill Road, Maidstone.

PC Adrian Parsons, drugs liaison officer for Maidstone and Malling Police, said: "There are certain houses that fit the criteria. We are looking at a small number."

However, PC Parsons said police would investigate other options first before obtaining a closure order for a premises.

He said the operation in Sunningdale Court, which left a flat closed for a month, had disrupted drug networks in the area.

"It’s been quite clear from information we have that people used to go there to buy their drugs," said PC Parsons.

"They have been displaced for a short time and are frantically looking elsewhere."

Under the Anti-Social Be-haviour Act 2003, civil orders to close premises and order people not to return to them can be obtained using "hearsay" evidence – when the police can offer evidence based on what someone else has told them, without them having seen it with their own eyes.

It means residents do not have to appear in court and may tip-off police in confidence.

Officers in Maidstone received several calls from members of the public following the June 10 Kent Messenger report of the crack house closure.

PC Parsons said: "Information like that is vital to us. Although we can confirm that there are class A drugs present by doing things like drugs warrants and from previous intelligence, the main crux of acting under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act is that it has got to be related to people suffering.

"We want more information, and it will all be held in confidence."

*Contact PC Parsons on 01622 608057.