LDRSResidents have said they feel safer more than a month on after their estate was closed off to outsiders.
The Freehold estate in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, has been subjected to a Open Space Closure Order Zone since it was enforced by police on 4 November.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) ordered the closure of 19 blocks of flats on the estate to non-residents following a spate of drug-dealing and anti-social behaviour.
Those living in the flats who previously said they were scared to leave at night have now said they feel safer and more confident to go out.
LDRSResidents who spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service at the time said they feared the shutdown would not do anything.
But according to police, the estate was already seeing positive changes in the space of a month.
GMP said they had recorded a reduction in anti-social behaviour and drug crimes.
A Lydford block tenant told GMP: “This is the best thing to happen around here in a long time.
An Upton block tenant also told officers: “We definitely feel safer in the evenings and now feel confident going out.”
The force is working with Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) and Rochdale Borough Council to “build a prosperous community” at Freehold.
Drugs, cash and weapons have all been seized during multiple raids, with a total of 40 arrests made since December 2023.
Insp Meena Yasin said while the force was proud of what had been achieved so far, it could not become “complacent”.
There is a possibility the closure order could be extended but police said that decision would be made alongside residents and partners.