A COUNCIL has banned visitors from an Oxford flat in the city to protect a vulnerable resident from being exploited by drug users.

Oxford City Council secured a closure order against a property in Alice Smith Square, Littlemore, at Oxford Magistrates' Court last week.

The closure order, which lasts for three months, restricts anyone from entering the property except for the resident, support workers, police officers, council officers and agents working on behalf of the organisations.

The resident, an Oxford City Council tenant, was being cuckooed by drug users.

Cuckooing is a practice where criminals take over an individual’s home and, against the will of the resident, use the property for criminal activity.

The council worked closely with police to secure the order. Both organisations received reports of drug taking and other anti-social behaviour taking place at the property.

Councillor Tom Hayes, Executive Board Member for Safer and Greener Environment, said: “This case sadly shows the crossovers between modern-day slavery and the calculated exploitation of very vulnerable people.

“The Council and the Police are days away from launching our new drugs taskforce, set up to end all drugs slavery in our city, and this case shows why we need that extra investment.

“For a long time this Council has been tackling drugs slavery with closure orders and injunctions and, as part of the new taskforce, we are funding two community police officers to partner a dedicated police officer and problem-solving officer.

“Together these officers will ensure that every vulnerable person can be found, stops being exploited, and gets the support they need to rebuild their lives.”