Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of whether police forces in (a) England and (b) the West Midlands are effective in using the powers available to them to remove Travellers from unauthorised encampments.

There are a range of existing powers available for both the police and local authorities to tackle unauthorised encampments. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 provides specific powers to the police to move travellers from unauthorised encampments if certain criteria are met.

The Home Office works closely with the police to ensure the powers they have are fit for purpose. However, the decision on when and whether to use police powers is an independent operational decision for the police.