POLICE have closed down a drugs den in a block of flats in London’s East End after complaints from families that addicts and prostitutes were blighting the area.

They were given a closure order by Thames magistrates last Thursday on the flat in Menotti Street next to Weaver’s Field in Bethnal Green.

It bans the 44-year-old tenant from the building for three months, following a raid in which officers found “dugs paraphernalia” in October.

Now the property owners, Southern Housing, are this week taking action to permanently evict the tenant for breaching the rental agreement.

“The families complained it was unsafe for their kids to play and innocent women were being stopped by kerb-crawlers,” Pc Carolyn Pryor told the East London Advertiser.

“We found enough drugs paraphernalia such as needles and burned silver foil used for heroin to close the flat down.

“It attracted prostitutes to the block and was bringing down the whole area.”

Two women and two men were in the flat when it was raided, but were not arrested. No drugs were found at the time.