TWO Liphook families were set to face an eviction order from their homes yesterday (Thursday) for threatening behaviour towards neighbours, in a case believed to be the first of its kind in the country.

The two families are tenants in social housing on Midhurst Road, owned by Moat Housing Group South Limited, which is bringing the action against the households.

They were due at Aldershot and Farnham County Court yesterday (Thursday) to hear whether they would be evicted under an antisocial behaviour injunction, a new power which has been given to housing associations.

The four adults, and 10 children ranging in age from four to 14, who currently cannot be named for legal reasons, were to be evicted by police last Friday. However, this was prevented at the 11th hour in a late-night ruling by a High Court judge.

Antisocial behaviour injunctions are taken out under civil proceeding, but any violation of it is a criminal matter.

The catalogue of alleged antisocial behaviour by the two families stretches back to 2001 and affects several households in the Winnipeg Close area.

The action against the families began last Friday when Moat went to court to get the eviction notices in a session closed to public and press.

District Judge Ackner agreed to the injunction, which led to 15 police officers calling at the two houses at 8-45 pm.

The court order called for the families to leave the houses immediately or face the arrest of any adult refusing to leave. It also prevents the families from returning to the houses until April 29 next year.

However, police told the families they could stay until 10 am on Saturday as they did not believe it was in the best interests of the children to wake them.

"We did not feel it was reasonable to get young children, some as young as four, out of bed," said Central Hampshire inspector Chris May. This was agreed by representatives of Moat who were on site.

At 3 am on Saturday, a High Court judge put a stay on the order with regard to one of the families, which made police reconsider their position, leaving both families to stay in the houses.

"We felt would be wholly inappropriate for police to proceed at this time," said Whitehill police inspector Gerry Thorne. "Now, it is up to the housing association to decide how to progress this matter."

A small number of police officers remained in the area to ensure public order, and police have assured the public that they will respond to any calls about a disturbance.

Gary Clark, the regional director of Moat, told The Herald how the association intended to continue. "We hope to uphold the injunction in court on Thursday.

"A court won't give out this type of injunction unless it is very serious," he said. "We will use this only in the most severe cases, when we need to protect our other residents."

Moat says it will work in partnership with residents and agencies to "resolve situations where people's lives are being affected by the unacceptable behaviour of others.

"In certain situations we have no choice but to take a tough stance," the association states on its website. "We won't let the actions of a few ruin the efforts of most people who want to live their lives in a pleasant, peaceful and safe environment."

Moat also stresses that it is working with other agencies to ensure the welfare of the children.

The case will be reported in The Herald next week.