“This is a great achievement that will help to prevent the distress caused by unauthorised encampments."
On 17 December 2024, the Borough Council successfully secured a final Injunction Order against unauthorised encampments in the Borough against various named defendants, and a continuation of the interim order obtained on 19 March 2019 against persons unknown.
The High Court Order prohibits the named defendants from setting up unauthorised encampments on all land within the whole Borough for a period of five years until the 17 December 2029, as well prohibiting Persons Unknown (including newcomers) from the 142 sites identified in the Order for a period of one year, with the option for the Council to apply to extend on the submission of further supportive evidence.
Both parts of the Injunction Order include a Power of Arrest, which means that any person breaching the terms of the Order can be arrested and brought before a High Court Judge within 24 hours.
The full injunction and its terms can be viewed on the Council website.
Granting the order, the High Court Judge acknowledged that there had been significant evidence of problems associated with such unauthorised encampments in the Borough in the past, including hazards of human and animal faeces left at the sites, threats of violence and intimidation by individuals and through the use of animals, verbal abuse, fly-tipping and a litany of poor behaviour.
The evidence of such was supported by Council Officer witness statements.
The Judge confirmed that the Interim Injunction granted in 2019 had reduced the number of encampments and their duration and agreed that the orders being sought against the named defendants and persons unknown were a proportionate response.
Based on the High Court judgement, the Council is in the process of serving the Injunction on the named defendants and sites across the Borough.
Councillor Chris Watkins, Leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council said:
“This is a great achievement that will help to prevent the distress caused by unauthorised encampments.
“The Injunction will save the Council crucial money and resources and hopefully set the people of the Borough who have been affected at ease.
“Congratulations to all involved on achieving this wonderful result.”