Police have welcomed a decision to stop anyone living in or using a council flat for three months after it became the focus of violence and suspected drug dealing.

Its tenant, Mary Jane Allen, showed no reaction as York magistrates made the order closing down the property in Backhouse Close, The Groves.

Victoria Waudby, making City of York Council’s application for the order, told them police had been called to eight incidents of violence at the flat between December 6 and February 7 and that Miss Allen had been present for four of them.

After the hearing, the council revealed the flat was also linked to suspected drug dealing which had led police to arrest a 26-year-old man on February 14 on suspicion of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply. They had charged a woman with possessing cannabis.

Miss Allen did not oppose the making of the three-month premises closure order, nor did she show any reaction when magistrates formally banned her and anyone else from using the flat.

She had already told magistrates she is now living in Plummer Avenue, Tang Hall.

After the closure order was made, Mark Jackson, a police community support officer assigned to The Groves, said: "You could almost feel the relief of locals who came to speak to us." 

Superintendent Lindsey Robson, commander for the York and Selby areas, 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.”

Cllr Jenny Brooks, executive member for housing and safer neighbourhoods at City of York Council, 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.”