Crispin blunt

Conservative MP Crispin Blunt has called for tighter legislation to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by travellers illegally trespassing on land.

As his private members' bill, the Trespassers on Land (Liability for Damage and Eviction) Bill, received its first reading in the Commons on Tuesday, Blunt said he aimed to tackle both the "cumbersome" eviction procedure and the issue of liability for any damage.

The proposals seek to improve existing legislation by reducing the current six car minimum the police currently require in order to evict travellers and making all travellers on a site individually responsible for damage caused during an illegal occupation.

The bill would also enable the local authority to "request" the chief constable to take action and states that the police "shall comply with any such request".

The Reigate MP argues that such a move would give more powers to locally accountable politicians and address the frustration often felt by residents at police inaction.

"Law abiding travellers have nothing to fear from this legislation. Indeed their position is made much worse by the reputation they have to carry from the misbehaviour of others. If all travellers respected the settled communities who played occasional host to them much of this problem would not exist," said Blunt.

"This change in the law is designed to rebalance the rights and duties between the travelling community and the settled community. It promotes accountability and good behaviour. It also enables the unwilling host communities some protection from antisocial behaviour and damage.

"This one issue has caused a wider degree of heartache and distress amongst my constituents than any other single cause."

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