A TRAVELLING family have been banned from setting up unauthorised encampments in Sandwell for five years – while the head of the family is now banned from the whole borough for a decade.

A ruling on 14 members of the Cassidy family which was made on Tuesday, also ordered them to pay costs of nearly £16,000.

The Cassidys were originally banned from setting up unauthorised encampments in Sandwell last year and Sandwell Council’s legal team, anti-social behaviour team and West Midlands Police have now secured an extension to the original injunction.

Under the terms of the extended injunction, father John Cassidy is banned from all of Sandwell until June 2028. He is also forbidden from using or threatening violence, causing a nuisance or annoyance and removing any padlock, lock or bolt from anywhere in Sandwell.

The five-year extension applies to 13 other members of the Cassidy family and forbids them from setting up unauthorised encampments, dumping rubbish, damaging padlocks or entering the borough other than to drive through it until June 2023.

Also included in the injunction are restrictions on associates of the family (persons unknown) who are forbidden from setting up unauthorised encampments in Sandwell.

His Honour Judge McKenna heard from solicitors for the council and police how the Cassidy family had caused anti-social behaviour including assaults, large scale disorder, threats, intimidation, criminal damage and an extreme amount of fly-tipping across Sandwell.

The group, along with about 40 caravans and vehicles, set up camp on Sandwell Council and privately-owned sites more than 25 times between June 2014 and August 2016.

Councillor Paul Moore, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and investment, said: “I’m incredibly pleased that we have been successful in securing an extension to the injunction and I’d like to thank the council’s legal services team for their hard work.

“This injunction is a huge part of our success in keeping unauthorised encampments out of Sandwell.

"The original injunction we’ve had in place since last summer has worked and we’ve been able to prove that to the court.

“We’re committed to protecting our land and our residents from unauthorised encampments.”

Superintendent Richard Youds from Sandwell police said: “This family have caused problems to the residents of Sandwell for a number of years.

“The Injunction was originally obtained as a result of close partnership working between Sandwell Council and West Midlands Police, with months of preparatory work resulting in over 200 exhibits being presented at the original court hearing.

“This extension provides business owners, residents and general members of the public with the reassurance they will no longer be subjected to the behaviour of this group.”

Anyone caught breaking the injunction will be arrested by West Midlands Police, and could be imprisoned, fined and have their assets seized, while any breaches of the injunction should be reported to the council or the police.