NEW powers to close premises which are being used to produce or supply hard drugs will soon be used in Redditch.

Legislation under the Antisocial Behaviour Act will enable the police, together with Redditch Council, to tackle "crack houses".

At present, the council does not have a policy on the closure of crack houses but at an executive meeting tonight, moves to introduce one will be made.

Councillors will be asked to delegate authority to the director of housing and housing manager to work with police issuing "closure notices".

The police will have to provide the council with enough notice to put in place effective housing management solutions to prevent homelessness.

Council antisocial behaviour and tenant participation manager Liz Bellaby said: "The new powers are designed to enable agencies to act quickly in the closure of premises used in connection with the production, supply or use of Class A drugs and associated with the occurrence of disorder or serious nuisance."