Travellers: Caravan Sites

(asked on 16th June 2020) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals before the 2020 summer recess to tackle unauthorised traveller camps through (a) giving the police new powers to arrest and seize the property and vehicles of trespassers who set up unauthorised encampments, (b) making intentional trespass a criminal offence and (c) giving local authorities greater powers within the planning system.


Answered by
Kit Malthouse Portrait
Kit Malthouse
This question was answered on 22nd June 2020

On 5 November 2019, the Government launched a consultation seeking views on measures to strengthen police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments The consultation closed on the 5 March. We will announce the outcome of this consultation in due course.

The government is committed to strengthening national policy so local planning authorities have stronger grounds to reject retrospective planning applications where there has been intentional unauthorised development. MHCLG will also extend the time period for temporary stop notices giving local planning authorities more time to build their case for enforcement action. MHCLG intend to consult on the details of these proposals shortly.

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