New law to crack down on illegal gypsy camps
MINISTERS are drafting new laws to tackle the blight of illegal gypsy camps, a Derbyshire MP has revealed.
If passed, police could move in to arrest travellers for trespass on public land, such as parks, after 24 hours.
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This would put it on the same footing as private land where it is a criminal offence under common law and bailiffs can take action after 24 hours.
Currently, it can take between two and three weeks to get an eviction order from public land from the courts because of all the paperwork and evidence which is required.
Details of the proposed change were revealed yesterday by South Derbyshire Tory MP Heather Wheeler.
It follows a big rise in the number of illegal travellers' camps in Derby in recent months, including at Markeaton Park and Bass Recreation Ground. Travellers on the recreation ground, who left on Wednesday, lit fires, dumped rubbish and, in one case, a woman crossing the ground was bitten by a dog.
Mrs Wheeler was informed of the plan to alter the law by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles after she had campaigned for action on illegal sites.
She said the changes were being drafted by civil servants and could be implemented as soon as autumn.
Mrs Wheeler said: "This will involve bringing in a new law that makes intentional trespass a criminal offence on public land.
"At the moment the police would only be able to make an arrest if, for example, someone sees a traveller breaking through a gate.
"If it's not seen, they can't be arrested. If the law gets passed, officers will be able to move in after 24 hours."
Mrs Wheeler said that, in the four months between February and May last year, 16 traveller sites were set up in South Derbyshire.
She said passing the law would need support from her party's coalition partners, the Liberal Democrats.
A Derbyshire police spokeswoman yesterday said the force would not comment on "suggested laws".
Tracey Nedic, a member of the Gypsy Council who has worked with the Home Office, said the law change would make it difficult for travelling families to find somewhere to stay.
She said: "The Government should be looking at creating more traveller sites or encouraging councils to allow farmers to sell their land to travellers if they are going to go ahead with this."
No one at the Home Office, which deals with changes to police powers, was available for comment.
News of the potential law change came following a meeting between police and council officials in Derby to consider how to tackle the growing number of travellers' sites.
Superintendent Gary Parkin, who met Councillor Chris Poulter, cabinet member for neighbourhoods at Derby City Council, said systems to deal with gypsy sites would be streamlined and people would be encouraged to report law-breaking earlier.
"If we build up a picture of criminality then it can assist the council and police with action, such as eviction."
Both organisations will be working to find out why travellers are coming to the city and why there has been an increase in illegal camps.
If the council and police can prove the camp is made up of the same people who have previously been evicted from land elsewhere in the city, the eviction can be immediate.
Mr Poulter said he hoped the meeting with the police would enable them to speed up the eviction process.
He said: "There is a protocol in place on how we deal with traveller camps and we looked at how that could be tightened up so things are speeded up somewhat."
19 Comments
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by gorga face, derby
Tuesday, August 17 2010, 8:05PM
“i have spent some time reading these comments and i am discusted at some of your comments i will apolagise for my spelling mistakes as i am only a gyipsy in most of you eyes so you can put it done to that but what is your non gyipsys exsuss for not reading the house rules this site is to comment not insite racil hatred and tar evry gyipsy withe the same brush when yous dont even no what you are talking about we all live in this world together in20010 but youd think we were back in the war times the lovely site at foston is infested with rats and cost gyipsys 80 pounds a week to live on but you dont need to pay councl tax because thay can move you off at eny time day or night regardles of you situason or you kids you have no rights if you do try to do something about it your put off i would like to no what drives yous with so much hatred agenst us we all are humen we all bleed the same we are not all mass murders or sex afenters or drug lords we do have to pay for evrything in live and in moset cases more because of how we are yous have no right to tar evry gipsy with the same brush it is very hard for me to tell my children why we are hated so much some gyipsy dont play by the rules but they do get caught and do pay can yous state that all of your communit dont do nothing wrong and if they do can yous be held responcabul for them and are yous tared with the same brush no in the news all the time when gyipsys do something wroung it states they are gyipsy this is all wrong because what diffrents dose it make yous dont no the half of it and no good me wasting my time as yous dont lisen eny way because the word gyipsy is anuf for yous to start a war”
by Barney, London
Monday, August 02 2010, 12:24AM
“From the article: "This would put it on the same footing as private land where it is a criminal offence under common law and bailiffs can take action after 24 hours."
This isn't true. Trespass on private land is not generally an offence at present, and private property owners need to get court orders to evict squatters. Once those court orders are granted they usually only give bailiffs a power to evict the squatters, not for them to be arrested.
Squatting in a home that someone else lives in would be a criminal offence if you refuse to leave, although this hardly ever happens and the offence is under the Criminal Law Act 1997, not the common law.
It takes a lot longer than 24 hours to get an order to evict squatters.
I'm an ex squatter myself, and have given advice at the Advisory Service for Squatters.”
by david watts, derby
Saturday, July 31 2010, 6:49PM
“new dragon
let's guess?
you have a very small moustache?
whale bones down your trousers?
lots of mirrors?
and your an ASSociate of WAYNE KERR?
nail on the head-njoy waster!”
by swadlincote resident, Swadlincote
Friday, July 30 2010, 11:44PM
“We have a constant problem with travellers in Swadlincote they are moved only on to appear 200yds down the road and just generally thumb their noses at any authority moving at will where-ever whenever they like and leave a mess which the council inform us as cost us in the region of £13,000 to clear the mess left behind.they have just appeared at Common Side roundabout where they have been removed from at least 4 times in 6 months,also setting up camp on the grass verge opposite Morrisons petrol station,all in the heart of Heather Wheelers constituency.Anyone who condones these travellers should look round at the mess left behind.Also how can a 2010 VW Sharan (£20000+) be legally taxed and registered to no fixed abode?”
by New Dragon, Derby
Friday, July 30 2010, 10:31PM
“New? Old Dragon
are you suggesting these people do not hold UK Passports? david watts, derby
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commented on 30-Jul-2010 20:21
?
How do you work that out from what I said? Who mentioned passports ?
Whatever your drinking I suggest more water with it.”