You’re barred… Everyone banned from York building after it was used as drugs den

No one is allowed to enter a York building after it became a go-to location for drug abuse.

On Tuesday (February 20) City of York Council has issued an order banning anyone from its property on Backhouse Street in the Groves.

Following reports of suspected illegal drug-related activity, the order bans anybody from entering the building for the next three months.

The premises closure order awarded by York Magistrates Court follows an upsurge in incidents of anti social behaviour, both at the property and nearby.

Two arrests

Police have arrested two people linked to the property on suspicion of drug offences.

They include a 26-year-old man arrested in the early hours of February 14 on suspicion of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.

A 30-year-old woman was also arrested while a search warrant was carried out at the property on the same date. She has been charged with possessing cannabis.

The man has been released while under investigation and the woman is due to appear at before magistrates on March 15.

A quantity of drugs was also recovered from the property by officers, including a number of tablets and a herbal substance believed to be cannabis.

‘Blight of anti-social behaviour’

Using intelligence about levels of anti-social behaviour and suspected criminal activity at the premises, it was decided to request a closure on the council-owned property to ensure the safety of local residents.

Councillor Jenny Brooks, safer neighbourhoods lead, said: “The Community Safety Hub shares information to ensure that individuals and communities do not suffer the blight of anti-social behaviour such as that which comes from drug dealing and drug misuse.

“We urge people to support this work and share information with the police so we can take action.”

Police commander for York and Selby Superintendent Lindsey Robson said: “Illegal drug use and the associated criminal activity causes misery for law-abiding residents.

“As this operation demonstrates, we won’t hesitate to take robust action together with our partner agencies to disrupt suspected drug-related criminality in our neighbourhoods.”