ILLEGAL TRAVELLER SITE REVIEW

...I welcome the opportunity to be able to have a national debate on the powers that are available to police and local authorities...

Philip Seccombe

TOUGHER powers could be available to deal with illegal traveller encampments that have blighted Nuneaton and Bedworth.

It is no secret that the borough has been particularly hard hit over the past four years, being forced to spend £150,000 of Council Tax payers’ cash on tackling illegal encampments.

Now the government has launched a review into the law and powers on hand to deal with unauthorised caravan sites and developments.

It is also asking for feedback on what more can be done to ensure local authorities, the police and landowners can deal with unauthorised sites and developments efficiently.

The move has been welcomed by Philip Seccombe, Warwickshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), who called a summit to look at the situation locally at the Town Hall in December 2016.

He says that the review, which is being undertaken by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Home Office and Ministry of Justice, could pave the way for even stronger measures being made available.

The PCC, who is in charge of overseeing the police force, said he will be taking part in the review, adding: “Tackling the problems caused by unauthorised traveller encampments has been something that we have prioritised here in Warwickshire, so I welcome the opportunity to be able to have a national debate on the powers that are available to police, local authorities and landowners.

“Last year I held a summit meeting to look at this issue, bringing together our local authorities, the police and county MPs to discuss the existing legislation and what powers might be helpful in supporting better management of encampments when they occur.

“It led to the establishment of the Warwickshire Protocol on Unauthorised Encampments, which has helped to foster a collaborative approach to dealing with unauthorised encampments when they occur, as well as looking for longer term approaches to reduce the problems faced by both the traveller and settled communities. “I will be encouraging our partners in local government and policing to contribute to this national review, so that the work we have done here in Warwickshire can help to shape future policy and legislation.” Since 2013 Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council has had to deal with 101 unauthorised encampments with the hardest hit year being 2015 when the Town Hall had to tackle a whopping 40 separate traveller incursions. The summer of 2015 will be forever known for being hit by travellers, with the now infamous ‘Butlins’ holiday camp sign appearing near to the Jubilee Sports Centre, which was repeatedly targeted.

The full cost of all 101 incursions in terms of staff time, clean-up costs, court costs, bailiff costs and other charges, came in at £83,414.

On top of this, the Town Hall spent £69,100 since 2015 on strengthening existing boundaries and barriers.