Police in the Forest of Dean have made two arrests and secured a partial closure order against a Cinderford town centre business as part of ongoing efforts to tackle crime in the area.
A 32-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of shoplifting. Following the arrests, officers carried out a search of a home address where a quantity of Class A and Class B drugs was discovered. Both individuals were dealt with in custody and have since been released on conditional bail while enquiries continue and a case file is prepared for court.
In a separate development, police have been working alongside Trading Standards and Forest of Dean District Council in response to reports of alleged criminality linked to the European Market Shop in Cinderford.
A partial closure order has now been issued for the premises. The case is scheduled to return to Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on February 25, when a full closure order will be sought. While the current order remains in force, only the registered owner is permitted to enter the property.
A partial closure order places restrictions on how a property can be used, rather than shutting it entirely. It can limit who is allowed to enter, prevent specific individuals from visiting and control certain activities at the address. The aim is to reduce anti-social or criminal behaviour while giving those involved an opportunity to address concerns.
Officers also hosted a Police Information Point at Rheola House in the Belle Vue Centre, giving residents the chance to raise local issues and seek crime prevention advice. The team said further dates will be announced soon.
Police say they remain committed to working with residents and partner agencies to keep the community safe and are urging anyone with information or concerns to come forward.