A FLAT at the centre of 24 hour drug-laden parties and violent physical assaults in a quiet residential area has been shut down amid "the worst and most violent cases of anti-social behaviour the council has ever experienced".

The 20-year-old tenant in Powis Square, Brighton, effectively ‘lost control’ of the privately rented flat and numerous visitors used her house for holding parties while one regular visitor advertised parties on Facebook.

Drug use was reported as well as suspected dealing, cases of people climbing neighbouring balconies to access the property, numerous incidents of fighting and ‘domestics’ from within the property and in communal areas.

Brighton magistrates imposed the Section 80 Closure Order after hearing evidence of what the council has called the worst and most violent cases of anti-social behaviour the city has ever experienced.

The order, made under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, is the first of its kind in the city by Brighton and Hove City Council and was served on the property on Tuesday.

It prevents any person other than the landlord from entering the premises, and any person entering the premises who is not authorised to do so is liable to arrest.

Peter Wileman, community safety manager for Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “The occupant of this premises and her visitors have clearly caused considerable nuisance and distress towards the neighbours of this quiet, residential square.

“The Community Safety Team has responded quickly and robustly to address the concerns of local residents and has taken swift and decisive action.”

The Brighton and Hove Community Safety Team received complaints from local residents of parties running through the night, speeding motorbikes and revving engines as well as loud verbal abuse and worked to support and re-assure those residents while gathering evidence.

The Community Safety Team also liaised with the tenant and landlord of the property to ensure that they were aware of the reported concerns and what action would be taken if the behaviour did not cease.

A local resident praised the council’s work and said: “For several months the tenant and her associates brought misery to residents in Powis Square due to their constant anti-social behaviour.

“In exasperation I reported this to the Community Safety Team and within two days they had arranged a meeting to ?discuss the issues and way forward.”