Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that local police forces use their powers to (a) tackle anti-social behaviour on illegal traveller encampment sites and (b) prevent the creation of those illegal encampments.

This Government recognises the misery that unauthorised encampments can cause and that is why we have delivered on our manifesto commitment to give the police the powers they need to tackle those people on unauthorised encampments who cause harm.

Through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, we introduced a new criminal offence for those who cause or are likely to cause significant damage, disruption and distress, without first requiring a police direction. This enables the police to take quicker and more effective enforcement action where significant harm is happening.

The measures also extend the powers of the police to direct trespassers to leave land.

How police use these powers is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of each local force. The Home Office liaise regularly with the National Police Chiefs Council regarding how these powers are being used.