Police to get powers to tackle unauthorised encampments

Home Secretary Priti Patel has announced new criminal offence to target trespassers using vehicles to reside on land who are causing disruption to local communities.

The new offence will target trespassers who intend to reside on any private or public land in vehicles without permission, and where they are causing significant disruption, distress or harm to local communities.

The measures will target harmful encampments which reflect badly on the wider nomadic community as a whole, the majority of whom are law-abiding. The announcement delivers on a manifesto commitment to tackle unauthorised encampments and will be part of a new major criminal justice Bill to be introduced to Parliament imminently.

The new offence will be punishable by a prison sentence of up to three months, or a fine of up to £2,500, or both.

Patel said: “This new offence will enable the police to fine or arrest those residing without permission on private or public land in vehicles in order to stop significant disruption, distress or harm being caused to the law-abiding majority. I am delivering on my commitment to give the police the powers they need to tackle these encampments swiftly and effectively.”

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill seeks to equip the police with the powers and tools they need to protect themselves and the public, while overhauling sentencing laws to keep serious sexual and violent offenders behind bars for longer, and placing greater emphasis on rehabilitation to better help offenders to turn their lives around and prevent further crimes.