Success on the ASB front as problem property is shut down in Newark

A property that has become a magnet for antisocial behaviour (ASB) in Newark has now been boarded up and shut down.

That’s after a full closure order was secured on 181 Yorke Drive by Newark and Sherwood District Council, with the support of local police.

The flat has been well known to the authorities for some time now – with numerous reports being made of nuisance behaviour and drug activity.

A catalogue of complaints have continued to come in about the problem property, even after a partial closure order was secured by the council in September.

This included repeated ASB and reports of drug-related crime, while multiple individuals banned from entering the property under the partial order continued to do so.

Among them was Rocky Price, who caused a nuisance after going inside the flat before climbing onto the roof on 17 October, despite having an injunction banning him from the estate. 

The 20-year-old’s actions resulted in a cordon being set up by police in Yorke Drive, which led to further disruptions being caused to neighbours and the wider community.

Price, of Tolney Lane, Newark, admitted entering a premises in contravention of a closure order and causing a nuisance, during a later appearance at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.

Following this and numerous other complaints, a full closure order has now been secured, making it a criminal offence for anyone to go inside the flat for the next three months.    

The flat will remain boarded up until then, while anyone who disobeys these rules without reasonable excuse puts themselves at risk of being punished with a fine, imprisonment, or both.  

The order was secured following close collaboration between the council’s Public Protection team and the Newark neighbourhood policing team.

Cracking down on ASB in the Bridge Ward area – where Yorke Drive is based – was this month selected as the new policing priority for Newark, following a recent spike in reported incidents.

Announced as part of the national ASB Awareness Week of Action, the police and council hope the full closure order will help reduce ASB in the area and deter future offending.

Inspector Charlotte Ellam, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood, said:

“Tackling antisocial behaviour in the Bridge Ward area was recently selected as our chosen policing priority for Newark, so we’re very pleased to see this full closure order secured.

“We have been aware of the problems associated with this address on the Yorke Drive estate for some time now, with a partial closure authorised in September to try and curb this behaviour.

“We know how much harm ASB causes to communities, and that’s why our neighbourhood policing team works so closely with our partners like the council to try and do something about it.

“Closure orders provide another means for us to take action against those who create fear amongst law abiding residents, while they also serve as a great example of the police and local authorities working together effectively.”

Councillor Paul Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Community Relations at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: 

“This is an example of where we act when rules have been broken. The partial Closure Orders were secured to safeguard the local community and now this order has been broken, we’re keen to put tougher measures in to keep the community safe.

“We do not tolerate antisocial behaviour like this, and the safety of nearby residents is our top priority. With the Full Closure in place, we can do more to restrict activity at the property and can take decisive action if necessary.

“We want to do what’s best for our residents in and around Yorke Drive, which is why we will not stand by and allow selfish individuals to flout the law and cause harm or distress to the local community there. This should send a message to offenders that we will not allow this unacceptable behaviour to go unpunished, and we will take action against you.

“We are committed to clamping down on ASB and criminal behaviour and we will continue our successful partnership working with the police to ensure our reach is wide and our resources are strengthened.

“I also urge anyone who witnesses or experiences ASB to report it to Nottinghamshire Police or the District Council, so that we can take appropriate action."

Councillor Lee Brazier, Portfolio Holder for Housing at Newark and Sherwood District Council, added:

“We want to show residents on Yorke Drive that we won’t sit back and let this unacceptable behaviour continue and we will persist to take action when necessary.

“I urge residents to support us by acting as our eyes and ears, reporting any incidents so our teams can investigate. This Closure Orders show that we will not tolerate antisocial behaviour and drug related crime in our district.”

Anyone wanting to report an ASB offence can do so by calling 101, or they can speak to the council’s ASB team. To register an ASB complaint contact the District Council or use the online ASB reporting form.