A formal complaint has been made to Northumbria Police after a house-party on Grosvenor Place in Jesmond was shut down at the end of November. Four people were arrested with one receiving a penalty notice for being drunk and disorderly.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “We can confirm we have since received a complaint about an arrest made during the incident and that complaint is currently under review.”

Around 150 attendees were asked to vacate the premises following the house-party on 30th November, 2019. IDK Sound System, which provides speaker systems for house parties, was told its equipment would be seized if it continued being used.

Kurtis Parkin, 19, who attended the party said: “The way they [police] dealt with it felt so hostile. They came in and started putting people in headlocks.”

Oliver Smith, also 19, said: “They [police] say they’re shutting it down to keep people safe, but putting drunk, vulnerable students on to the streets isn’t keeping them safe.”

The students who spoke to JesmondLocal said they were confused: most understand that local residents need to be respected but according to some, no warnings were given, and the organisers of the party were told to shut it down immediately.

“It’s tense between the police and students,” said Parkin. “People are afraid to have people around to their house. If we know what we’re allowed to do we’ll follow the regulations, but we haven’t been given any clear answers. I understand you should always respect police, but when they come into the house with no explanation, it causes tension.

“We’re trying to figure out what our rights are. We get different answers from different officers and it’s not consistent.”

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “Due to the excessive noise, disorder and lack of cooperation from the occupants, police requested that those in attendance left the address.”

Police patrol student areas in Jesmond every Friday and Saturday night as part of “Operation Oak“, a joint effort between Northumbria Police, Newcastle City Council and Newcastle and Northumbria universities, to improve rleations between local residents and students.