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August 2009
> Emergency Injunction Served on Cockermouth Nuisance
Derwent & Solway Housing Association, a member of Harvest Housing Group, have obtained an Emergency Injunction Order for a Cockermouth man accused of threatening one of their residents who gave evidence against him in a Closure Order case.
Ashley Slack, 33 of Fairfield View in the town was issued with the Injunction Order, granted on Thursday 6 August after Derwent & Solway's Community Safety Team made an application to Whitehaven County Court upon hearing of the incident that involved an elderly resident.
The Order has now been served on Mr Slack and prohibits him from using or threatening violence to any person with a right to reside, visit or occupy housing in the locality of Fairfield View Cockermouth. Mr Slack is also prohibited from approaching any of the witnesses in the Closure Order case and from entering any Fairfeild View property. There is a power of arrest attached to the Order, which means Mr Slack will be arrested for contempt of court if he breaches the Order which is in place, initially for 6 months.
The initial Closure Order was granted on the Fairfield View property, which is owned by Mr Slack’s Grandma, following reports of noise nuisance and anti social behaviour. Police executed a search warrant under the misuse of drugs Act on 12 June, finding evidence of drug use and drugs paraphernalia.
Despite stern warnings from Derwent & Solway Housing Association’s Community Safety Team Officer and Police Officers Mr Slack continued to act in an anti-social manner, and an application for a premise Closure Order was subsequently requested by the Police.
Following a court hearing on 4 August, a Closure Order was granted on the property and it was sealed for a minimum of 3 months. The incident involving the elderly resident occurred the following day.
Robert Porter, Director D&S commented:
“The Closure Order was our only remaining option after other attempts to bring an end to the anti social behaviour had failed. The Order was to give respite to the elderly residents of Fairfield View from the unacceptable behaviour that has been affecting their lives. It is regrettable that the residents were subject to further threatening behaviour from Mr Slack, however the swift injunctive action taken as a result demonstrates that the safety of residents is our primary concern. We will not tolerate behaviour of this kind".
A further hearing regarding the Closure Order is due to take place on 25 August.