Crispin Blunt, the Tory MP for Reigate, introduced this bill to make a person liable for any damage caused to land, or property on that land, on which he is trespassing for the purpose of residing there. The bill would also amend the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in respect of eviction from land.

The bill was prompted by stories of the "illegal occupation of land by members of the travelling community", and Blunt told MPs about one particular group of travellers that moved between three different sites in his constituency, leaving "damage, mountains of waste and intimidated local residents in their wake".

House of Commons

First reading: March 26 2002 (HC Bill 116)