'Robust' action looms on travellers in Sandwell

The unauthorised encampments policy is due to be discussed next Wednesday, and follows the local authority meeting with others in the Black Country as well as the police to try to come up with a joint approach to the issue.

The protocols document is being used as a template by West Midlands Police and could be implemented across the region.

Sandwell Council leader Steve Eling says it is their aim to have a 'clear and robust approach' so they can act in a 'timely, co-ordinated and appropriate way'.

The council already had a protocol for tackling travellers illegally parked on council land, but this new document sets out changes which they hope will give them more power to remove troublesome camps through the use of common law and injunctions.

This will be in addition to the current procedure which requires them to go through the county court to secure an eviction, which can take days.

The paper states: "The main changes within the protocols document are to allow, in exceptional circumstance, the use of bailiffs using common law powers and for consideration of injunctions to be served against identified problematic groups."

Sandwell Council estimates the cost of dealing with illegal encampments as a quarter of a million pounds a year.

In the last two years the council says it has had to deal with more than 1,000 caravans parked on such encampments.

Councillor Eling said: "We are concerned about the number of unauthorised encampments we are having to deal with – due to both the impact on the local community and the cost to the council.

"Already this year we have dealt with well over 40 – already more than for the whole of 2015.

"Subject to Cabinet approval, we will hold a public consultation on our revised policy and joint protocols with West Midlands Police.

"In addition, Sandwell Council is leading a joint approach with other Black Country councils and the police with the hope of adopting the same approach.

"We have also established a monthly working group with the police and we are reviewing security of sites." If approved, there will then be a six-week period of consultation, which will include council officers visiting unauthorised campers to make them aware of the revised policy.

Questioned on what they meant by 'exceptional circumstance', Councillor Eling added: "When the police have no grounds to use their powers and the court process would take too long.

"For example at election time the council needed to site a portable building on the car park to Londonderry Playing Fields at Smethwick which at the time was occupied by an unauthorised encampment. It was only a few days before the election and the use of bailiffs was the only option."