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Review ordered of law on illegal Traveller camps




Travellers left mess at the Lincoln Road play park, Newark
Travellers left mess at the Lincoln Road play park, Newark

The government is to review powers used to tackle illegal Traveller and Gypsy encampments.

Newark MP Mr Robert Jenrick campaigned for the review after problems in Newark and Lowdham over the summer.

The aim is to create a new national strategy for dealing with illegal camps, as well as looking at education and health and well-being for Traveller communities.

A public consultation was announced in Parliament on Monday.

The East Notts Traveller Association said the actions of a few problem groups did nothing to improve the reputation of the many law-abiding Travellers and Gypsies.

It said while it hoped the review would have positive outcomes, Travellers and Gypsies should be treated the same as any other citizen, and to single them out was discrimination by the government.

Mr Jenrick said the powers available to police and councils when faced with unauthorised camps, and the “difficult topic” of where and how many new permanent sites there should be, would be addressed.

“Both are complex issues which we face regularly in our area and I welcome renewed thought and an opportunity for the public to make their views known,” said Mr Jenrick.

“I have spoken with the Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire and leaders of our local councils.

“I expect they and many others, including parish councils, will want to participate when the details of the consultation are published shortly.”

'I want a cohesive and united community'

A group of Travellers camped on a play park off Cedar Avenue, Newark, for more than a fortnight in June, and were accused of anti-social behaviour.

After staying in defiance of a court order, they left behind piles of rubbish, car parts and human waste, which had to be cleared away.

On a separate occasion, properties and the parish church and graveyard were damaged in Lowdham, with human excrement wiped on gravestones. Residents said they had been intimidated.

Sites on Newark Industrial Estate and at Newton were also occupied this year.

“I have always tried to handle these matters sensitively and not stigmatise the Traveller community in our area or nationwide,” Mr Jenrick said.

“In fact, helping to prevent poor behaviour by some must help ensure better community relations and protect the good name of the majority.

“I want a cohesive and united community, which respects difference, but in which no one is above the law.”

County Police and Crime Commissioner Mr Paddy Tipping said: “If Robert needs any help in the review he can be sure he will get it from Nottinghamshire Police and from me.

“The law at present is far from clear. Greater clarity would be a big step forward.

“The question is whether trespass is a civil matter or criminal one as it is in Ireland.

“I am in favour of having the power to move them on more quickly than at the moment.

“Notice has to be served, a court order obtained and served and all the time nuisance and annoyance is often being caused.

“Basically, it is a civil action from the landowner (to secure removal). The police have limited powers, which are very tightly defined.

“They rely on there being a local Traveller transit site they can go to and there isn’t such a site in the whole of Nottinghamshire.”

Mr Tipping said the absence of a transit site was a matter for councils, adding that often residents were strongly opposed to any suggestion of one being sited near them.

He said if greater powers were made available, there would be sufficient police resources to enforce them.

'Not everyone leaves a site in a mess'

Mr Roger Blaney, leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said the process of repossessing land could be speeded up.

He said a consequence of the consultation could be that itinerant Travellers who caused problems were pursued for the cost of moving them on and restoring land to its original state.

Those costs are currently met by landowners, whether they are councils, private companies or individuals.

“I would be more than happy to work with other district authorities in Nottinghamshire to find an appropriate transit site,” Mr Blaney said.

The East Notts Traveller Association said there needed to be more council-run transit and permanent sites to stop illegal encampments.

A spokesman said there were often empty pitches on private sites in Newark and Sherwood.

“If a landlord doesn’t want you on his site then he won’t let you on,” they said.

“If that happens, what do you do? You have your house on your back, you have to go somewhere. You pull on wherever you can.

“Not everyone leaves a site in a mess.

“We want a (council-owned) transit site and a permanent site but not in the middle of nowhere. They need to be near the town, near the houses and near the services.

“If it was a council site people would abide by the rules.”



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