Ben Williams successfully secures injunction pursuant to the Anti-social behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014

Ben Williams, instructed by North East Lincolnshire Council, successfully secured an injunction pursuant to the Anti-social behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 in respect of two rough sleepers in the Authority’s district. The powers under the section 1 of the Act tend to be used exceptionally and many Courts are unfamiliar with the same.

As lockdown measures were relaxing in the centre of Scunthorpe, the Local Authority officers were becoming increasingly concerned about the behaviours of the two defendants who had set up an encampment in the town centre and had persisted in loitering and begging as well as burning waste and discarding drug paraphernalia there. The Local Authority had used the powers under the Act as a last resort and the Judge commended the pragmatic approach taken in what were difficult circumstances. The Local Authority simply wished for the defendants to engage with their officers in respect of finding suitable accommodation for them. The Court granted the injunction in full, meaning that the two can no longer sleep rough, or engage in a number of anti-social behaviours including lighting fires and begging.

If you have any questions about this case, please do not hesitate to contact Ben through his clerk, Jake Brooke on 0121 200 3573 or via email JBrooke@kingschambers.com.