A CITY centre newsagent shut down by police earlier this month re-opened yesterday after a High Court Order was made.

Barkers in Sunbridge Road was closed on October 6, pending the court hearing, because of concerns about its links to anti-social behaviour in the city centre and the wider district.

Its owner, Pervez Abbas, was made subject to the legally binding agreement with police and courts yesterday and the shop started trading again.

The Order means must stop selling 'legal highs' from his shop or storing them on the premises.

The shop is managed by Mr Abbas's son, Zaheer Abbas, who yesterday said: "We have come to an agreement with West Yorkshire Police that certain items in store that they were not happy with being sold will not be sold.

"That is any substance they believed to be legal highs."

Pervez Abbas had lodged an appeal against the closure, but said yesterday all court action relating to the premises had been stopped.

Zaheer Abbas said: "From day one, and in the future, Barkers have never sold anything illegal. It has never been any different."

Police said the successful order was an "innovative use of existing court powers."

Although the shop can now trade as normal, the Order will last indefinitely and any breaches will result in a return to court.

Inspector Andrew Gallant, of Bradford City Neighbourhoods Team, said: "I am delighted with the court result, which sends a clear message to businesses choosing to sell products that may impact on anti-social behaviour.

"Their responsibility goes much further than the sale of legitimate items if they have a negative impact on the communities around them.

"I am by no way complacent with the success of our approach; the effects of legal highs on users is still a concern to the partnership. I will continue to work with key organisations to protect members of the community from harm and anti-social behaviour and prevent the sale of so-called legal highs.

"The success of this work could not have been achieved without the help and consent of the public who have come forward to say ‘No, this is not acceptable.'

"I would like to thank and encourage the people of Bradford who collectively help the authorities drive anti-social behaviour out of the city."

Pervez Abbas last night said the real problem - anti-social behaviour around the corner from his shop - had not gone away.

"The problem is those who are causing anti-social behaviour are still hanging around," he said. "Whether we are open or not, the problem is still there. I have told police about it."

The court order is part of Operation Nightshot, a multi-agency campaign led by West Yorkshire Police targeting the largely unregulated market in new psychoactive substances, which are manufactured as chemical substitutes for illegal drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy.

The project has been praised in Parliament and by the Home Affairs Select Committee.