The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Call over travellers
Cambridgeshire Police has responded to questions over why Peterborough City Council was left to deal with travellers – who set up an illegal encampment on a city park – despite calls from Paul Bristow MP for new powers to be used to move them on.
A number of caravans set up camp on Werrington Rec over the weekend, leading to complaints from residents.
One resident living near the area, who asked not to be named, said she had seen and heard motorbikes being used, and rubbish being left on the site by the group.
She also said she had called on the council to take action two years ago, when another group of travellers had set up on the park, causing similar issues with anti-social behaviour, but nothing had been done to prevent unauthorised access.
Peterborough MP Paul Bristow wrote a letter to Cambridgeshire chief constable NickDeanthisweek,askingfor police to use new powers under the Police, Crime, Courts and Sentencing Act to move the group on.
Inithewrote:"Thesemeasureswerebroughtintogivepolice
the powers to tackle this issue and act as a deterrence for illegal encampments. Now thisisthetimetoact.Itrustyou will use the full powers available to you and take a zero tolerance approach. This will act asawarningandensurePeterborough is no longer seen as a soft touch for unauthorised traveller encampments."
The powers, which were introduced last year, mean people caught breaching conditions of the act can face a prison sentence of up to three months, a fine of up to £2,500 or seizure of vehicles.
The entrance to the park sitsinPastonandWaltoncouncillor Nick Sandford’s ward, and he also called for police to use their powers.
He said: “We would like to see police use their powers to get them moved on as quickly as possible. ”More needs to be done here and at other large recreation grounds to take action. We are talking to the council about the possibility of a much larger barrier being put in place here.”
However, rather than police using the new powers, it has been Peterborough City Councilwhohavetakenaction to move the group on, issuing a Section 77 order on Tuesday.
The order means that the group had until yesterday afternoon to move on, or the council can apply for a Section 78 order.
A Section 78 will result in a group being removed from a site, often by using bailiffs – however, it could take a number of days for this to happen.
Whenaskedwhythepolice had not used their powers, Inspector Mike Jackman said: “We respond appropriately to cases based on the individual circumstances.
“This includes balancing considerations as to whether the alleged trespassing meets the threshold of ‘causing, or likely to cause, significant damage, disruption or distress’, alongside the potential impact taking enforcement action may have on families involved or other vulnerable people.
“We agreed with the council that the most appropriate course of action was a Section 77 notice with due regard to the impact to the wider community.
“This is being monitored and reviewed regularly. If the circumstances change, police powers can and will be used if appropriate.”
A council spokesperson said: “We are exploring options around installing additionaldefencemeasuresatthis location.”
A trio of drug dealers have been jailed after more than £200,000-worth of drugs were found in a house.
Mateusz Tabor, 27, Damian Pajak, 26, and Konrad Niznik, 25, were all arrested at the house they shared in Kirkmeadow, Bretton, Peterborough, on 18 February 2021, following a tip-off.
Inside a padlocked room, officers found a large-scale drugs factory, containing class A and B drugs, including amphetamine, MDMA, mephedrone and cannabis, with a street value of more than £200,000.
Further mephedrone, amphetamine, hundreds of pounds in cash, a Taser torch, an ingredient list, scales and deal bags were also found in the house.
On Monday, the trio were all jailed at Peterborough Court.
Det Sgt Jenny Blunt said the operation had been a ‘significant’ seizure.’ She said: “Tabor, Pajak and Niznik were supplying drugs which cause so much harm to people and communities.”
Tabor, of Moores Lane, Eye, was jailed for three years, having pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, being concerned in the supply of MDMA, being concerned in the supply of cannabis and possession of a prohibited weapon. He was found guilty of being concerned in the supply of DMPEA and being concerned in the supply of cannabis.
Pajak, of Walton Park, Peterborough, was jailed for eight months, having pleaded guilty to possession of MDMA and being concerned in the supply of amphetamine.
He was found guilty of being concerned in the production of cannabis, being concerned in the supply of cocaine, being concerned in the supply of MDMA, being concerned in the supply of cannabis and being concerned in the supply of DMPEA.
Niznik, of Vicarage Farm Road, Peterborough, was jailed for seven months, having pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis.
He was found guilty of being concerned in the production of cannabis, being concerned in the supply of cocaine, being concerned in the supply of MDMA and being concerned in the supply of DMPEA.