Sandwell Council backs tough new powers to tackle illegal traveller camps
Travellers setting up illegal camps in Sandwell will now face swift action under new tough powers which can see them moved on within 24 hours.
The ruling mean camps can now be moved on from council-owned land through appointed bailiffs – without the need of an eviction notice from the courts.
Sandwell Council agreed to the new policy with West Midlands Police. It will also enable officers to ban groups of travellers from returning to land.
The move comes after greater powers were also issued to neighbouring Walsall Council, allowing it to remove travellers camped illegally within 24 hours. It also restricted encampments at 12-owned sites.
Councillor Paul Moore, cabinet member for regeneration, said it costs the authority £400,000 a year to tackle the illegal camps.
The move has been welcomed by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson, who said working together was the 'only way to come up with practical solutions'.
The council has described the policy as a 'joint protocol' between the authority and West Midlands Police.
The council will have the use of bailiffs, injunctions and powers under Section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Councillor Moore said: "There will be some discretion as to what powers we use for each unauthorised camp but the new policy has granted Sandwell Council the use of bailiffs, injunctions and Section 77, which we didn't have before. What powers we use will depend on what problems each encampments are causing.
"The growth of unauthorised camps has been big right across Sandwell. We are adopting this policy with West Midlands Police to respond to the concerns of the public. The council will also be securing high risk sites that travellers keep returning to."
Section 77 is granted to local authorities from central government. Sandwell Council has become the fifth local authority in the country to bring in these powers. The borough has seen a 25 per cent rise in camps in the last 18 months. Crime Commissioner David Jamieson will be holding a summit on February 10 to try to tackle the issues surrounding unauthorised traveller encampments. He will bring together councils, police residents and traveller groups.
