Pickles accuses officers of "washing their hands" on illegal travellers sites

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has accused local government officers of too often saying ‘nothing can be done’ about illegal and unauthorised traveller sites.

Publishing new guidance on councils’ powers, he said: “I want all councils to be ready to take action straightaway to stop illegal camps and unauthorised sites starting in the first place. Decisive action early on saves money and unnecessary upset for local residents.

“We’ve strengthened councils’ powers so they have the confidence to take decisive action. Too often, council officers wash their hands, and say nothing can be done. This is not the case.”

Pickles added: “The public want to see fair play, with planning rules enforced consistently, rather than special treatment being given to certain groups.”

The Department for Communities and Local Government has sent the guidance – Dealing with illegal and unauthorised encampments: a summary of available powers – to all council leaders.

The DCLG also cited the Communities Secretary’s revocation of previous equality and diversity in planning guidance “which said that planning rules should be applied differently, depending on their background of the individuals involved; it recommended equality impact assessments before making planning decisions, and told councils not to take enforcement action against unauthorised travellers”.

That guidance discouraged councils from taking enforcement action, the Department claimed.

The DCLG said: “Councils merely need the political will to uphold the law while it is particularly important that people are vigilant over the impending bank holiday when unauthorised sites are often more prevalent.”

It added that the powers that could be used included:

• "more powerful temporary stop notices to stop and remove unauthorised caravans;
• pre-emptive injunctions that protect vulnerable land in advance from unauthorised encampments;
• possession orders to remove trespassers from land;
• police powers to order unauthorised campers to leave land;
• powers of entry onto land so authorised officers can obtain information for enforcement purposes;
• demand further information on planning works to determine whether any breach of the rules has taken place;
• enforcement notices to remedy any planning breaches;
• ensuring sites have valid caravan or tent site licences."

A copy of the summary of powers can be viewed here.