While the rest of Tyneside follows Government messages to 'stay at home' one property in Newcastle has become a hive for anti-social behaviour and drug use.
Police say neighbours have reported numbers of people gathering at a flat, at Kendal House in Byker, despite the lockdown.
And now as part of a new crackdown on drugs in the East End, Northumbria Police has taken action to get it shut down.
A 28-year-old man, suspected of dealing drugs, has been banned from entering the property after a partial closure order was granted by magistrates last Tuesday.
Northumbria Police’s Neighbourhood Inspector for the area, Dan Whyte said: "We received a number of complaints about this particular address.
“We carried out enquiries and agreed with residents’ concerns that a man who was regularly staying at the address could be involved in drug dealing.
“Enquiries into criminal offences can take some time and on this occasion we looked at what civil powers we could use to help tackle any criminality."
The closure order, under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, was heard before a judge at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
It prevents the man from entering the property with any breach of the order leading to a criminal prosecution that would see a possible prison sentence or fine upon conviction.
Insp Whyte added: "We have worked with the city council and Byker Community Trust in the past to secure similar orders and we know it can be a successful tactic.
“I want to thank them for their support once again and hope that this action can reassure residents that we will take action, even if we haven’t met the threshold of a criminal prosecution.
“However, this kind of activity is only possible with the help and support of the public and if you have information about drug dealing in your community then we need to hear from you.”
The closure order was obtained as part of Operation Shield, a new crackdown on drug use on a number of plagued streets in Byker and Walker.
The ChronicleLive revealed on Friday how plain-clothed cops would be carrying out surveillance of key targets while uniformed neighbourhood officers will be speaking to residents to get intelligence about criminal activity.
Operation Shield will be targeting a number of troubled streets and high rise flats in the area.
They include Kendal House, Raby Street, Belvedere Court, Losh Terrace and St Anthony’s Road.
