Police and council staff evicted travellers from a Brighton park yesterday (Wednesday 11 June).
They acted after a number of complaints about anti-social behaviour by people staying without permission in Wild Park in Moulsecoomb.
Today (Thursday 12 June) Brighton and Hove City Council reported unauthorised camps in three other locations – Black Rock, Preston Park and Stanmer Park.
And a separate camp at Wild Park, on the plateau, was the subject of an application for a possession order being made to Brighton County Court.
After the evictions and dispersal yesterday there was a stand-off at Saltdean Park and another in Horsdean in Patcham near the authorised travellers site.
Sussex Police said: “A large group of travellers left the unauthorised encampment at Wild Park yesterday afternoon as a result of numerous calls to Sussex Police and subsequent authorisation under Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.
“The large numbers involved created a risk to other city parks and open areas from further civil trespass and neighbouring policing districts were advised and local council made aware.
“Travellers were deterred from entering a site at Saltdean and moved on from Horsdean Park Recreation Ground.
“Groups eventually gained access to Black Rock, Stanmer Park and Preston Park where they currently remain.
“Sussex Police worked closely yesterday with Brighton and Hove City Council to manage a challenging issue and will continue to do so all the time that unauthorised encampments exist within the city.
“The Council Traveller Liaison Team and Sussex Police are making joint site visits today to the three new encampments.”
Inspector Paul Ransome, of the Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “The decision to take action in relation to the large encampment at Wild Park was significant but necessary.
“This is a large public park and considerable disruption was being experienced by businesses and residents.
“There is always a risk in relation to the movement of such large numbers and steps were taken to mitigate those risks.
“Unfortunately not all vulnerable sites can be completely protected.
“Sussex Police and the Council Traveller Liaison Team work closely together to manage such encampments throughout the year and we are looking at the best ways to do this which provides community reassurance and protects the rights of all of those involved.”
The council website included updates about the four unauthorised camps. It said
- Unauthorised encampment of van dwellers on the plateau at Wild Park – We are now seeking possession of this land. We have applied to the county court for a possession order which will enable us to arrange for an eviction to be carried out as soon as practicable, should the families fail to leave the site voluntarily.
- Unauthorised encampment of Gypsies and travellers at Preston Park – We have visited this site with the police and we are currently undertaking a community impact assessment to determine the most appropriate course of action.
- Unauthorised encampment of Gypsies and travellers at Black Rock, Madeira Drive – We have visited this site with the police and we are currently undertaking a community impact assessment to determine the most appropriate course of action.
- Unauthorised encampment of Gypsies and travellers at Stanmer Park – We are due to visit this site with the police to undertake a community impact assessment to determine the most appropriate course of action.
Why don’t the city council use the powers they have already been told to use by Eric Pickles in August 2013 to deal with these illegal encampments, rather than following the Traveller policy created in 2012 by the Greens focusing on the travellers needs, and force these travellers off the parks and onto proper sites?
Why do the council persist with ‘community impact assessments’ followed by ‘section 61’ then the travellers move to another location and the council repeats the same process again?
Even if they are necessary, why do the council need to repeat assessments for the same people in the same caravans?
What do traveler liaison officers actually do for the city?
Why don’t the city council use the powers they have already been told to use by Eric Pickles in August 2013 to deal with these illegal encampments, rather than following the Traveller policy created in 2012 by the Greens focusing on the travellers needs, and force these travellers off the parks and onto proper sites?
Why do the council persist with ‘community impact assessments’ followed by ‘section 61’ then the travellers move to another location and the council repeats the same process again?
Even if they are necessary, why do the council need to repeat assessments for the same people in the same caravans?
What do traveler liaison officers actually do for the city?
WASTE of resources . ALL they have to do is vote for NO CAMPING OR CARAVANS ON PUBLIC LAND , put up notices , then TOW AWAY vehicles and FINE the owners for removal , TRESPASS and illegal camping . Like in Europe . Simples .
Every summer we see this IMMENSE waste of man-power , going round and round in circles . No-one may camp in MY garden . What is BHCC’s problem ? Maybe 5homes Lucas should put them up in HER GARDENS . The existing traveller camp has been a GREAT source of copper and other building materials . There is NO leadership and NO_ONE in BHCC listens to the residents . luv lemme
WASTE of resources . ALL they have to do is vote for NO CAMPING OR CARAVANS ON PUBLIC LAND , put up notices , then TOW AWAY vehicles and FINE the owners for removal , TRESPASS and illegal camping . Like in Europe . Simples .
Every summer we see this IMMENSE waste of man-power , going round and round in circles . No-one may camp in MY garden . What is BHCC’s problem ? Maybe 5homes Lucas should put them up in HER GARDENS . The existing traveller camp has been a GREAT source of copper and other building materials . There is NO leadership and NO_ONE in BHCC listens to the residents . luv lemme
The easiest and fastest way to remove is the use of common Law, however the councils will not use this method.
The easiest and fastest way to remove is the use of common Law, however the councils will not use this method.
Why does no one pick up the phone in the traveler liason team, I wonder?!! Looks like Preston Park will be ruined for the local residents that actually pay for it this weekend the; as the process is still at the ‘Community impact assessment stage’ then they will just move to another park and the whole useless cycle starts again – please sort it out and use the most up to date powers available to you BHCC.
Why does no one pick up the phone in the traveler liason team, I wonder?!! Looks like Preston Park will be ruined for the local residents that actually pay for it this weekend the; as the process is still at the ‘Community impact assessment stage’ then they will just move to another park and the whole useless cycle starts again – please sort it out and use the most up to date powers available to you BHCC.
Before I begin. I am not a fascist nor am I a racist. Yesterday in Brighton the largest encampment of gipsies was moved on from Brighton’s Wild Park. They have dispersed to the seafront, Stamner Park and on the much larger, more formally laid, lawns of Preston Park. They are a peaceable community apparently, but have once again illegally moved back onto these public areas. Three days ago I photographed the tiny frogs and endangered newt population in their habitat. Last night was a much sadder sight. The Irish-accented children (this strongly suggests they are gipsies, where the local population are known to be of Irish descent) were throwing the pond weed over the verges and pavements and upsetting the resting frogs. They are little more than 1cm in length and vulnerable. They were escaping into the soil borders where they will not survive. Many were already crushed on the pavement. In a plastic tub, the boys were catching newts; around 15 of them. Some boys were happily lobbing the disturbed weed around on sticks. The weed is the frogs and newts’ refuge and food source. I twice reported this to the police who were in the park last evening not because I want to spike gipsies but because this child’s play is ignorant, damaging to wildlife and endangering protected species and decimating a much loved part of our summer calendar. The gipsies had no intention of engaging with me and seemingly the police are powerless. What to do? We returned home frustrated and saddened.
Before I begin. I am not a fascist nor am I a racist. Yesterday in Brighton the largest encampment of gipsies was moved on from Brighton’s Wild Park. They have dispersed to the seafront, Stamner Park and on the much larger, more formally laid, lawns of Preston Park. They are a peaceable community apparently, but have once again illegally moved back onto these public areas. Three days ago I photographed the tiny frogs and endangered newt population in their habitat. Last night was a much sadder sight. The Irish-accented children (this strongly suggests they are gipsies, where the local population are known to be of Irish descent) were throwing the pond weed over the verges and pavements and upsetting the resting frogs. They are little more than 1cm in length and vulnerable. They were escaping into the soil borders where they will not survive. Many were already crushed on the pavement. In a plastic tub, the boys were catching newts; around 15 of them. Some boys were happily lobbing the disturbed weed around on sticks. The weed is the frogs and newts’ refuge and food source. I twice reported this to the police who were in the park last evening not because I want to spike gipsies but because this child’s play is ignorant, damaging to wildlife and endangering protected species and decimating a much loved part of our summer calendar. The gipsies had no intention of engaging with me and seemingly the police are powerless. What to do? We returned home frustrated and saddened.
Please can you lobby Eric Pickles about BHCCs inaction & inability to
remove Irish Travellers from our city permanently!
They holiday here off the backs of Council Tax paying residents. £1million spent this year & probably even more next?
It would be cheaper for us to fund them for a break in Ibiza!
Please can you lobby Eric Pickles about BHCCs inaction & inability to
remove Irish Travellers from our city permanently!
They holiday here off the backs of Council Tax paying residents. £1million spent this year & probably even more next?
It would be cheaper for us to fund them for a break in Ibiza!
If Preston Park is designated a sensitive site the police will move travellers on immediately. What do we do to get it designated as a sensitive site? If a building company destroyed the ecology of an area they would be heavily fined. Listen to Eric Pickles. Send them on their merry way back to Ireland. The Irish police would not tolerate such behaviour so why do we. Are our police scared of enforcing the law?
If Preston Park is designated a sensitive site the police will move travellers on immediately. What do we do to get it designated as a sensitive site? If a building company destroyed the ecology of an area they would be heavily fined. Listen to Eric Pickles. Send them on their merry way back to Ireland. The Irish police would not tolerate such behaviour so why do we. Are our police scared of enforcing the law?
the gypsys are very good people, im a none gypsy but I no quiet a lot of them if they wanna stay in a park leave them there not causing any harm?
sincerely Bob frank.
the gypsys are very good people, im a none gypsy but I no quiet a lot of them if they wanna stay in a park leave them there not causing any harm?
sincerely Bob frank.