Unauthorised Traveller encampments

Report an unauthorised Traveller encampment

If you come across an unauthorised encampment, please let our Traveller Liaison Officer know where the Travellers are, how long they have been there and the number of vans that have pulled up onto the land.  

There are a number of points we need to establish before deciding what further action to take:

  • who owns the land and whether or not they are there with the consent of the owner
  • who the Travellers are and how long they are intending to stay
  • the welfare and the rights of the Travellers: For example, we will need to know if there has been illness, mechanical breakdown or other immediate emergency
  • whether the Travellers are causing a nuisance that cannot be effectively controlled 

Usually we will take the following actions:

  • notify the landowner and establish what further action needs to be taken, if any
  • inform welfare agencies  
  • arrange for the collection of domestic rubbish 

Land owners

Primarily, the responsibility for moving Travellers rests with the landowner. Government guidelines for dealing with unauthorised encampments states that "Unauthorised camping is not a criminal offence and (the government) has no plans to make it so". Trespass is a civil offence, giving landowners and local authorities the right to possess their property using the due process of law.  

If you own the land, you or your solicitor can go to the County Court and obtain an order under Part 55 of the Civil Procedure Rules granting possession of your land. If Travellers refuse to leave the land, the landowner can then obtain a summons to serve on them. The court can subsequently issue an order permitting the landowner to move the Travellers. In exceptional circumstances, for example if there is a substantial risk of public disturbance or of serious harm to people or property, a claim may be issued in the High Court under order 113.  

The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 also gives local authorities powers to make directions to leave land being used by itinerant groups (section 77). If a direction to leave is not complied with we can apply to the Magistrates Court for an order requiring the removal of vehicles and any occupants from the land (section 78). Trespass on land in itself is a civil offence not a criminal offence and prevention of trespass is the responsibility of the landowner not the police.  

In certain circumstances a senior police officer has the discretion to order the Travellers to leave and remove any vehicles and other property they may have with them (sections 61 and 62 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 and Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003)  

If they fail to do so they may commit an offence and may be taken to court. The police must be satisfied that the owner or occupier of the site has taken reasonable steps to get them to leave.  

How to deter Travellers

If you wish to deter Travellers from accessing your land the following measures may prove effective:

  • make earth barriers
  • plough the land so vehicles sink in
  • reduce access width and or headroom by use of barriers
  • erect locked gates across the entrance
  • use the land for some purpose that makes it unsuitable to live on 

Letting Travellers stay on land

Unless you have already obtained planning consent for a caravan encampment or you are a farmer and they are helping you with temporary seasonal work, then you could be in breach of planning law. Contact the planning team for more information. 

Contact the council about Travellers

The council's Travellers Liaison Officer will be able to help you:

Telephone: 01353 665555 
Email: ContactUs@eastcambs.gov.uk

Further information

For further information, help and support, please see the following: