An unauthorised encampment is a group of people with vehicles who are staying on land without the landowner’s consent.
Hounslow Council recognises and accepts the rights of gypsies and travellers. The council aims to manage all unauthorised encampments (not limited to but including traveller encampments) on council land with consideration. The council recognises the need to balance the rights of those at encampments along with the rights of the local community to enjoy public open spaces.
The Role of the Council
If an encampment is on public land (for example council parks, open spaces, play areas and the public highway), officers from the Neighbourhood Enforcement Team visit the site quickly to assess the encampment and undertake welfare checks of those on site. Officers make enquiries about health, welfare, housing needs and children’s education and signpost to any to any services they may require.
Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers are legally protected from discrimination, and must be able to access mainstream council services if required. Council Officers must ensure they comply with the Human Rights Act 1998.
If the decision is taken to evict the encampment, a legal notice must be served on the group, and if this notice is breached the council can apply for a court order to take further legal action. If the court grants the council a removal order, this again needs to be served on the group, and if this is breached the council may utilise bailiffs to enforce the order and remove the encampment.
The process has necessary associated timescales and is dependent on court availability, so can take several days or weeks to progress in some cases.
Encampments on private land
It is the land owner’s responsibility to take the necessary action to evict. Landowners are recommended to seek legal advice as soon as an encampment arrives. The Council can offer help and advice to private landowners, however cannot take action on their behalf.
The Role of the Police
Police respond to any crime, disorder and nuisance associated with any unauthorised encampment, and we work closely with our colleagues in the Metropolitan Police to agree the best way forward when an encampment arrives in the borough.
The police have separate powers to deal with traveller encampments, providing certain criteria apply, for example if there is a significant impact to the local community or other users of the land, impact upon the land, a significant increase in local crime directly attributable to the encampment, or a risk to life.
The presence of an encampment should not create an expectation that police will use eviction powers – these powers are discretionary and will be considered when reviewing the most appropriate action to take.
Any enforcement action requires considerable resourcing and having sufficient police officers available, which can take time to arrange.
These powers can only be exercised by police after the owner of the land has themselves taken reasonable steps to ask them to leave, in cases where the landowner is unknown/not contactable then police powers are limited.
Report an unauthorised encampment
Email: parks@hounslow.gov.uk
Phone: 020 8583 2000
Any crime, disorder or nuisance associated with an encampment should be reported to the Metropolitan Police on 101 or via the website.
If it is an emergency call 999.
