Shrewsbury Ark reopening after 'intimidating' behaviour - with beefed up security and no more drop-ins
A Shrewsbury homeless charity which was shut due to "intimidating" anti-social behaviour is reopening - but has ditched its drop-in service and beefed up security.
The Shrewsbury Ark will be bringing in a new "referral-only" system to try to combat the problem of people hanging around and causing a nuisance when it opens its doors again next Monday, November 20.
As part of the changes, there will be security guards moving people on and the car park has been fenced off.
Recently a man was slashed with a broken bottle in the car park, and there have been numerous incidents of drug-taking, fighting and shoplifting in the town centre in recent months.
Concerns over those issues prompted the Shrewsbury Ark to close on October 2. However, bosses believe the new way of operating will help address the anti-social behaviour problem.
Emily Bell, chair of trustees at the charity, said: "Our new referral-based system aims to ensure a more structured approach to support, enabling us to better assist those in need in their journey towards stability and self-sufficiency.
