Douglas Carswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-11-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to advise local authorities, under Section 62 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which powers are available to remove illegal traveller camps without recourse to the courts.

Brandon Lewis

In March 2015 the Government published a summary of the enforcement powers that enable the police and local councils to remove unauthorised encampments. This includes the powers under sections 61-62 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 which give the police discretionary powers to direct trespassers to leave land and remove any property or vehicles they have with them. The Government sent the summary of powers document to all Council Leaders, Police Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners in England and it is published on the Government’s website at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/dealing-with-illegal-and-unauthorised-encampments