Assaults, intimidation and extreme fly-tipping: Notorious traveller family banned from Sandwell parks

The head of a notorious traveller family responsible for criminal damage across Sandwell has been banned from the borough.

A burnt-out car at Black Patch Park, one of the sites where the Cassidys have been banned from

John Cassidy has been told he must not enter the borough under any circumstances. If he does, he faces jail.

Thirteen other members of his family have been banned from setting up unauthorised camps anywhere in the borough.

Members of the family have been responsible for anti-social behaviour including assaults, large scale disorder, threats, intimidation, criminal damage and fly-tipping across Sandwell.

More of the fly-tipping left at Black Patch Park

Now councillors have said enough is enough and obtained an injunction against the 14 members.

The injunction also bans them from fly-tipping or damaging barriers anywhere in Sandwell.

Council Leader Steve Eling, said: “The Cassidy family have caused anti-social behaviour, threatened council and police officers, intimidated residents and fly-tipped on sites around Sandwell for some time.

“This injunction is a message to the Cassidys and other groups who set up unauthorised encampments that we will not tolerate this behaviour.”

Mounds of rubbish left at Black Patch Park after the Cassidys and others had camped there

Council bosses were supported by West Midlands Police in securing the injunction from His Honour Judge McKenna at the High Court of Justice in Birmingham.

The court heard that the group, along with more than 40 caravans and vehicles, set up camp on sites in West Bromwich, Wednesbury, Tipton, Oldbury and Smethwick more than 25 times between June 2014 and August 2016.

Parks, business estates, car parks and playing fields were all targeted – often with human waste and tons of rubbish left behind once the group were moved on.

The head of the family, 44-year-old John Cassidy, is now banned from the whole of Sandwell, while the rest of the family are prohibited from setting up unauthorised encampments, causing damage to barriers and fly-tipping anywhere in Sandwell.

In addition to the order on the Cassidy family, the injunction also bans unauthorised encampments on 17 council sites regularly targeted by groups with caravans.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and investment, Councillor Paul Moore, added: “Unauthorised encampments cause misery for residents, cost the council thousands of pounds a year and take up valuable police time and resources.

“This injunction is the latest in a series of actions we’re taking to prevent and remove unauthorised encampments.”

Sites named in the injunction:

Kent Road Open Space, Friar Park, Wednesbury
Millenium Park, Friar Park Road, Wednesbury
Sandy Lane Open Space, Friar Park, Wednesbury
Blakeley Wood Road, Tipton
Land off Dartmouth Street, Greets Green, West Bromwich
Shaftesbury House car park, High Street, West Bromwich
Churchfields Playing Fields, Newton Road, West Bromwich
Wyntor Lane Open Space, West Bromwich
Crookhay Lane / Chester Road Open Space, West Bromwich
Meadow Avenue Open Space, West Bromwich
Greets Green Recreational Ground, Claypit Lane, West Bromwich
Ridgacre Industrial Estate, Ridgacre Road, West Bromwich
Lion Farm Playing Fields, Newbury Lane, Oldbury
West Smethwick Park, Victoria Road, Smethwick
Harry Mitchell Park, Coopers Lane, Smethwick
Black Patch Park, Foundry Lane, Smethwick
Tame Road Playing Fields, Brandhall Oldbury