Police remove squatters from former Bedford gym

Officers from Bedfordshire’s North Community Team closed the building on Kimbolton Road, Bedford, on Friday last week in agreement with the property owner.

Three occupants were removed from the property and local social housing groups were available to facilitate shelter, food and accommodation for those recently living there.

Luton Magistrates Court later granted a closure order for three months under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2014 to help curb the issues in the area. Inspector Nick Masters said: “There have been numerous complaints from the community about noise coming from the property and damage to the building, and we are pleased to have made use of this legislation to help address these issues.

“We take community safety very seriously and will not tolerate the anti-social behaviour, drug use and other illegal activity which can arise from squatting in empty properties. We will continue to investigate similar properties in the local area.”