TWO people have been banned from a Skipton estate by a county Court judge following action to protect residents by Craven Housing Association.

Judge Lingard sitting at Bradford County Court granted an injunction, with the power of arrest against Darren (Das) Hall and Elizabeth Reynoldson.

It is believed that this is one of the first injunctions to be won by a housing association against people who are non-tenants.

Hall and Reynoldson have been ordered to stay away from the Greatwood Estate in Skipton.

For the purposes of the injunction this specifically includes Moorview Road, Heather View, Whinny Gill Road, Jenny Gill Crescent, Crag View Road, Greatwood Avenue and Western Road.

Also under the terms of the injunction Hall and Reynoldson must not:

o use or threaten to use violence toward any person who resides on the Greatwood Estate;

o engage or threaten to engage in conduct causing or likely to cause a nuisance or annoyance to any person who resides on the Greatwood Estate; and

o enter any part of the Greatwood Estate as defined by the listed streets.

The judge has also granted a power of arrest if either Hall or Reynoldson are caught in breach of the conditions.

The injunction will remain in effect until May 2007.

The judge heard evidence of the couple's anti-social and unacceptable behaviour from Craven Housing, a number of witnesses and the police.

Reynoldson has previously been evicted from a council house in Skipton and is already the subject of an injunction to stay away from her sister's home on Whinny Gill Road as a result of causing nuisance and anti-social behaviour there.

Both Reynoldson and Hall were also involved when another man was evicted from his tenancy on Whinny Gill Road last October due to the nuisance and unreasonable behaviour of himself and visitors to his home.

David Bolton, acting director of Craven Housing, said the injunction was sought as part of the association's zero tolerance policy on anti-social behaviour.

He explained: "While it is our main aim to house local people in good quality affordable homes, it is also our duty as a responsible landlord to take all practical steps to protect our tenants if they are affected by the anti-social behaviour of others.

"A change in the law last year has allowed us to act against perpetrators even when they are not tenants of Craven Housing as is the case here.

"Hall and Reynoldson are known to us because of their part in problems of anti-social behaviour that some of our tenants and their neighbours have been affected by in the past two years.

"We have used the new powers available to us and have acted very quickly in this latest case to bring a potential for serious nuisance to an end.

"It is our view that the sort of behaviour exhibited by these two individuals is clearly unacceptable. We will not tolerate it in any of our properties and we will not hesitate to take similar action again in the future.

"We are grateful for the assistance of members of the community, Foundation Housing, the police and Craven District Council's anti-social behaviour officer, on this case, as without their co-operation this action would not have been possible."

Sgt Cris Pappin, of North Yorkshire Police, said he commended the action taken by Craven Housing.

"We applaud the action taken by Craven Housing and we were only too pleased to give our full support to protect the community from this nuisance.

"This case has been an excellent example of what can be achieved through organisations working in partnership."

Stacey Mitchell, Craven's anti-social behaviour co-ordinator, said: "Partnership is the key to tackling anti-social behaviour, and in the Craven area agencies like Craven Housing, North Yorkshire Police and Craven District Council, work together to combat such issues.

"My role is to liaise between all the agencies involved with tackling anti-social behaviour in the area. I act as a facilitator to any agency having difficulty with people acting in an anti-social manner.

"When a particular individual or family comes to our attention, in partnership, a decision is made as to the process taken to combat the behaviour.

"This can include acceptable behaviour contracts, injunctions, and where necessary anti-social behaviour orders.

"Being a predominantly rural area, crime in Craven is low. However we will not tolerate anti-social behaviour in any way shape or form and will take appropriate steps to tackle it."

Craven Housing is now advising members of the public to contact the police immediately if they see either Hall or Reynoldson in the Greatwood area.