Unauthorised Encampments

There are around 16,000 Gypsy and Traveller caravans in England. Three quarters of these are on authorised sites however in 1994 the duty on local authorities to provide sites was removed and since then under-provision has resulted in Gypsies and Travellers camping on land that they do not own (unauthorised encampments) or developing their own land without planning permission (unauthorised developments).

Where Gypsies and Travellers camp on land that they do not own without the owner’s permission, they are ‘trespassers’.  Many encampments can be dealt with through negotiation but where that is not possible action can be taken to remove them from the land. 

Private landowners, local authorities and the police all have powers to deal with unauthorised encampments.