Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made since May 2015 of the potential merits of granting new powers to police forces and local authorities to tackle Traveller incursions on public and private land.

Local authorities and the police have a range of strong powers that enable them to take action against unauthorised encampments and development. A summary of those powers were sent to all Council Leaders, Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Police Constables in March.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/418139/150326_Dealing_with_illegal_and_unauthorised_encampments_-_final.pdf

We are open to suggestions for how enforcement could be strengthened and keep this issue under review.