Peterborough MP welcomes new measures to tackle unauthorised traveller encampments

Paul Bristow said it is “excellent news for Peterborough” after it was reported in the media over the weekend that police will soon be able to arrest anyone suspected of ‘intentional trespass’ and seize their vehicles if they refuse to move on.

This will apply to both public and private land, with people found in breach of the new law expected to face fines of up to £2,500 or a three month prison sentence.

There has been considerable anger among residents and councillors in Peterborough about what is perceived as a lack of action by police to tackle unauthorised encampments in the city which has seen travellers pitch up on green space and car parks, with some leaving behind a mess when they depart.

On public land the council is forced to resort to a lengthy process to move groups on which often just results in them pitching up at another site in the city with the process then repeating itself.

Guidance issued by the National Police Chiefs’ Council states: “There is no legal right to trespass, however, trespass is a civil rather than a criminal offence.

“The co-ordinated use of powers available under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 allows for a proportionate response to encampments based on the behaviour of the trespassers.”

It adds: “In managing unauthorised encampments officers must be sensitive to the fact that there is a lack of pitches on authorised sites across the country, making it difficult or even impossible for people to avoid setting up unauthorised pitches.”

Conservative MP Mr Bristow has been vocal on the issue, and tweeted a link to an online article on the proposed new laws adding: “This is excellent news for #Peterborough. I have campaigned on this at Westminster asking questions in the House of Commons Chamber and have written to Ministers!”

The traveller community has argued that there is a lack of suitable provision in Peterborough for them, a problem councillors have struggled to tackle despite numerous attempts.

A cross-party working group recommended that the Conservative-run council try and find four new sites, with suggestions including converting city car parking.

A previous group also spent more than two years searching for Emergency Stopping Places with three then approved in September 2014.

However, land near the Household Recycling Centre in Dogsthorpe and land at Corporation Farm in First Drove, Fengate, were then found to be unsuitable, leaving one ESP at Clay Lane at the rear of the Dogsthorpe Triangle.