Force’s softly-softly tweet over travellers leaves residents furious
A POLICE force has enraged residents who complained that travellers had set up camp illegally by telling them to consider how upsetting it would be to be “uprooted every few days”.
Elmbridge police in Surrey posted the sympathetic message on Twitter, leaving residents “incandescent with rage” after an illegal camp was set up in Long Ditton.
Residents alleged that children’s scooters had been stolen from playgrounds and that retailers had been forced to close early because of shoplifting after travellers moved on to Long Ditton recreation ground on Sunday having allegedly been evicted from a park in Cobham, six miles away.
The officers tweeted: “If we [have] evidence [of ] criminal damage then we would act. But can’t usually. You say upsetting to endure, consider for a second, how upsetting it would be, being uprooted every few days. That’s why we always act in the best interests of all parties with proportionality and legality.”
In further tweets, the police said they were trying to “enlighten followers” to an approach needed towards travellers and added the force was an “inclusive organisation” open to “edu- cated conversation”.
But Karen Randolph, a councillor who represents Thames Ditton, said the remarks left residents feeling “completely unsupported”. She said: “We are all incandescent with rage. We appreciate some of the problems that the travellers find themselves in when finding places to stay, but the attitude of the police has been a major problem and it is extremely worrying for the police to take that view.
“We can take a very liberal approach, as the police seem to be doing, and say these people have every right to live where they want, but some of the travellers seem very intent on causing a great deal of disruption.
“It’s very distressing for local residents, because they feel threatened and intimidated. We are left without any ability to confront it and we feel totally unsupported.” Yesterday, the travellers were served an eviction notice to leave Long Ditton. A Surrey Police spokesman said: “We are aware that the wording of the tweet on the Elmbridge Beat Twitter account hasn’t been well received. The tweet was intended to be impartial and to encourage both sides of the discussion.
“We appreciate the concern it has raised… however, we serve all communities equally and will not tolerate discriminatory behaviour.”