Letter: I Support Moves to Criminalise Unauthorised Encampments

Published on: 23 Mar, 2021
Updated on: 23 Mar, 2021

From: Keith Witham

Conservative county councillor for Worplesdon

In response to: Gypsies and Travellers Furious at Bid to Criminalise Illegal Encampments

The sooner that unauthorised Traveller encampments become a criminal offence, with criminal penalties, so that the police have extra powers and a duty to intervene, the better.

Last year alone there were five in Wood Street Village, with clear-up costs (including the removal of human faeces) of over £65,000 paid for by council taxpayers – in other words, us.

The problem at present is that illegal encampments are a civil matter meaning that it is up to the landowner to apply to the courts for an eviction order, which takes time.

I fully support this new legislation.

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