Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when will he bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a new offence of intentional trespass to tackle unlawful traveller encampments.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The Home Secretary announced on 6 February that the Home Office will conduct a review into how to criminalise the act of trespassing when setting up an unauthorised encampment. This review is under way and evidence is being gathered, working closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Ministry of Justice.
Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what powers the police have to direct people to leave an unauthorised encampment where local authority managed caravan sites apply a charge for residing.
Answered by Nick Hurd
There are a range of existing powers available for both the police and local authorities to tackle unauthorised encampments. Sections 61-62 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 provide specific powers to the police to direct people from unauthorised encampments if certain criteria are met.
A summary of the powers available to deal with unauthorised encampments has been published on the Government website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dealing-with-illegal-and-unauthorised-encampments
Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential effect on her Department's policies of Dame Louise Casey's review into opportunity and integration in some of the UK's most isolated communities; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Dame Louise Casey’s independent review will report to the Prime Minister and be published in due course. The Government’s response will be a decision for the Prime Minister.
Asked by: Ranil Jayawardena (Conservative - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish the results of Dame Louise Casey's review into opportunity and integration in some of the UK's most isolated communities.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Dame Louise Casey’s independent review on boosting opportunity and integration in isolated and vulnerable communities will report to the Prime Minister and be published in due course.