[ad_1]
The telegraph
Travelers will not be able to return to illegal sites for one year
Travelers will not be allowed to return to illegal sites for one year due to a government crackdown to be announced in the New Year. Police will have the power to prosecute travelers if they return to a specific site within 12 months, which is a quadruple the timeframe from the current three months. Those who break the law face up to three months in prison and fines of up to £ 2,000. This is part of a legislative overhaul aimed at preventing illegal settlements which ministers say cause “significant distress” to communities. The reforms, which are part of the Police Powers and Protection Bill slated for the new year, will give councils the power to direct travelers to authorized sites in neighboring municipal districts. Police are currently prohibited from moving travelers to sites outside the council area where they camped. The police will also be able to act earlier because the intervention threshold will be lowered from six illegally parked caravans to two. It follows widespread complaints from MPs and residents about trespassing, noise and anti-social behavior. It is estimated that there are some 23,000 passenger caravans in England, 14% of which are parked at unauthorized sites. Home Secretary Priti Patel is expected to make a clear pledge to give the police new powers “to stop and seize the property and vehicles of intruders who have set up unauthorized camps, in order to protect our communities”. This will be done by making it a criminal offense for travelers who intentionally enter private land while setting up an encampment. Ms Patel campaigned for change when she was a backbench MP alongside Alok Sharma, now business secretary, and John Whittingdale, minister of culture. Mr Sharma said: “My point is clear – the law must be strengthened and trespassing must be made a criminal offense. “This is the case in the Republic of Ireland and we need this change here. This will deter illegal encampments, as those affected will understand that they will be subject to criminal, rather than civil, penalties from the start. Civil penalties for tipping flies, which require farmers to pay tens of thousands of pounds to clean up thrown waste, and squats on business premises are not expected to be affected by the changes. The proposal to criminalize trespassing was first mentioned by conservatives in the party’s campaign manifesto in 2010. “The vast majority of travelers are law-abiding citizens – but illegal websites often give an unfair and negative image of their community and cause distress and misery to those who live nearby, ”said a government source. “There is a widely held perception that the law does not apply to travelers, which is deeply troubling.” Travel organizations oppose the measures, which say they are more about the election campaign than solving any perceived problems. Friends, Families and Travelers (FFT) charity said even police did not believe the new criminal powers were necessary. Responses to the government consultation obtained by the charity under Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation showed that 75 percent of police responses indicated that their current powers were sufficient and / or proportionate . Additionally, 84% did not support the criminalization of unauthorized settlements, and 65% said the lack of provision of sites was the real problem. Abbie Kirkby, head of advice and policy at FFT, said the proposed laws would make life for Gypsies and Travelers a miserable life. She said: “The evidence we have gathered shows that the Home Office is deliberately ignoring police views on unauthorized settlements. The timing of the consultation made it clear that the government’s motivation was to use Gypsies and Travelers to collect votes at election time.
[ad_2]
Source link