A VULNERABLE resident has received extra protection after police and the borough council barred antisocial visitors from his home.

The court order bans anyone other than the tenant and agency officials from entering the house on Berkeley Avenue, Coley.

Thames Valley Police say the neighbour was the victim of exploitative antisocial and criminal behaviour.

A three month closure order, blocking people from entering the premise was issued by Reading Magistrates' Court on Friday, February 5.

Inspector Keith Stacey, leading the neighbourhood team covering the area, said: "This action was taken following issues experienced by the tenant and also surrounding neighbours, whereby persons were attending the residence of vulnerable individuals and exploiting them with their antisocial and criminal behaviour.

"To support the residents we have, in partnership with Reading Borough Council and the housing association, taken this action which will improve the quality of life of those who live in that area.

"We will enforce this order robustly and anyone breaching it will be arrested and put before the courts."

Councillor Liz Terry, Reading Borough Council’s lead member for neighbourhoods, said: "Protecting the most vulnerable members of our community must be a priority for us all and this action demonstrates that we will use all the powers available to us to do so.

"Anyone who is a victim in this way should be reassured that we can and will protect them and I would urge anyone in a similar situation, or anyone who knows of someone in a similar situation, to call the police."

The closure order is part of Operation Eraser, a police crackdown on people who target vulnerable members of society.