Gang member first to receive court ban

A gang member has become the first in the region to be handed a full gang injunction, restricting his movements in Wolverhampton.

Reuben Hudson, aged 29, is now banned from from Wolverhampton city centre, Heath Town, Pendeford and Whitmore Reans. He is the first in West Midlands to be given a ban.

The 18-month gang injunction was issued to the Heath Town Crew member at Birmingham County Court.

Supt Mark Payne, of Wolverhampton Police, said: "We welcome this gang injunction which will compliment the range of preventative and diversionary measures we have already employed in the city.

"Our priority is to protect the community and at the same time support gang members to exit a lifestyle, which has a corrosive impact upon communities."

Hudson, known by the street name Smokes, has been subject to an interim gang injunction since March this year which saw him relocated out of Wolverhampton. If he breaches the 18-month injunction he faces a two-year jail sentence.

He was jailed in 2006 after selling or offering to sell crack cocaine and heroin six times to undercover police between August and September 2005 under initiative, Operation Engage.

The injunction was secured by West Midlands Police's Legal Services working with Wolverhampton Safer Partnership and the Gangs Tasking Team and is believed to be the first in the country which requires the recipient to engage with specialist mentors.

Lisa-Marie Smith, deputy director of legal services, said: "The judge was highly complementary of the application and the terms of the order in and in particular the imposition of a positive requirement.

"The department currently has other orders it is considering and we see these orders and others such as crack house closure orders and football banning orders as being an essential part of the arsenal of front line policing."