Francis Hoar represented the local authority in its successful application for an interim injunction against 'persons unknown'. The injunction seeks to prevent dangerous ‘car cruising’ or ‘meets’ within its borough.
Background to the application for an interim injunction
Organised or impromptu meetings of young drivers to perform dangerous stunts with their vehicles have been a problem in the borough for some years.
Such activities endanger spectators and participants. They are responsible for anti-social behaviour and cause a public nuisance.
In December 2013, one car meet resulted in 3 people being killed.
In February 2021, the local authority imposed a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to prohibit the street cruising.
However, the incidents increased.
The PSPO expired in February 2024.
The injunction sought
The local authority applied for an interim injunction to enable it to take enforcement action against the dangerous behaviour - so anyone found in breach of the injunction could face imprisonment.
The injunction sought to restrict the activities of 3 groups involved in car cruising:
- participants in the car cruises
- people attending with the intention or expectation that people present will engage in those activities and
- anyone who promotes, organises or publicises car cruises.
Mrs Justice Hill granted the injunction.
She said she was satisfied that s27 Police and Justice Act 2006 was met as the ‘harm in question is the risk of personal injury or death from Prohibited Activities in the injunction’. Therefore she attached a power of arrest to the injunction.
Read the judgment in full in London Borough of Enfield v Persons Unknown [2024] EWHC 3142.