DRACONIAN bans to stop travellers camping on public land have seen incursions plummet, town hall chiefs say.
By Jon Austin
PUBLISHED: 08:38, Sun, Aug 19, 2018 | UPDATED: 08:53, Sun, Aug 19, 2018
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1...le-towns-Draconian-laws-used-in-new-crackdown
"The “blanket” injunctions, which mean anyone pulling up on affected sites can be arrested, jailed or fined, can effectively ban travellers from entire boroughs.
Councils applying for the orders have given the High Court witness statements and photographs of commercial waste, including asbestos, excrement and damaged locks from vacated sites.
Previously, councils have reacted to traveller incursions, but they can now outlaw them before they happen.
Nearly 20 authorities across London, Essex, Hampshire, Surrey, the West Midlands and Lancashire now have interim or blanket injunctions, with more believed to be preparing applications.
Related articles
Traveller crackdown: Tory MPs urge new law to move camps on QUICKLY
Travellers leave rubbish and human FAECES in children's play area
Gipsy and traveller organisations have slammed the new power, claiming it will prevent their nomadic way of life.
Sarah Sweeney of Friends, Families and Travellers said: “We are deeply saddened to hear that increasing numbers of councils are using injunctions to prevent gipsy and traveller families from stopping in their area.
“Local authorities have largely failed to identify land for families to stop so it should come as little surprise when they pull up in public spaces and on private land.”
A spokesman for the Community Law Partnership, which has represented travellers for several years, said: “We think these wide injunction actions, which are becoming more common, are potentially highly challengeable.”
Travellers camp at Blackburn’s Thwaites Brewery
There has been a marked reduction in the number of encampments with no incursions since March this year
Kevin Blake
London Borough Sutton is the latest to obtain the power, following a series of costly clean-ups after incursions in recent weeks.
The High Court has granted an interim injunction order for three months, banning caravans from 182 sites, before a full application is heard.
The injunctions ban named individuals and “persons unknown” from parking caravans and vehicles and dumping waste in areas they cover.
If all councils were granted the power, it could effectively see an end to the bulk of unauthorised camps.
Harlow council in Essex, which has two permanent traveller sites, was the first to get the ban, protecting 322 sites, in March 2015, after 109 incursions in 18 months.
Council leader Mark Ingall said: “This has had the effect of significantly reducing the number and duration of unauthorised encampments and the clean-up costs.
It quickly resolves any issues, usually within 24 hours.”
Basildon in Essex secured one last November and councillor Kevin Blake said: “There has been a marked reduction in the number of encampments with no incursions since March this year.”
20 authorities now have interim or blanket injunctions (Image: GETTY )
Greenwich in South-east London now has 203 parks and open spaces protected.
A spokeswoman said: “It has been hugely successful. There has only been one incursion since the ban was put in place.”
Redbridge, in east London, saw 40 incursions in 2007.
But since securing an interim injunction in June, covering 235 sites, it has seen just one incident on council land, with culprits moved on within two hours, and another on private land."
