Newcastle Legal Highs Shop Closed Down

7 August 2015, 14:38 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A Newcastle shop has been ordered to shut after it was found selling legal highs which contributed to anti-social behaviour in the city centre.

The closure comes after Police carried out a joint operation with Newcastle City Council targeting outlets selling legal highs to children and vulnerable people in the city centre.

A hearing at Newcastle Magistrates Court has taken place this afternoon, Thursday, August 6, and has ordered Clayton News, Clayton Street to shut for 8 weeks.

Chief Insp Steve Ammari said : 
"We welcome today's outcome at court and hope this will send a clear message that selling legal highs can contribute to crime and disorder in our city and this will not be tolerated."

"Our advice would always be to avoid using legal highs. Just because the substance says it's legal, doesn't mean it's safe and we urge people to avoid them."

"Clayton News has been trading with new owners since July and was previously known as Jassal News. We are keen to stress that the previous owners of the store had no involvement in the selling of legal highs and we apologise to the Jassal family for any concern or confusion this has caused."

"Since the store was taken over by the new owners the local community and the Police have noted an increase in anti-social behaviour in the area and as a result welcome the closure."