Travellers on your land? Please contact us immediately. Strikes can help landowners to quickly, legally and ethically remove travellers and their vehicles. Whether it’s a retail park, industrial estate, a building site, carpark, playing field or park, our experienced and cool-headed Enforcement Agents are skilled at evicting travellers without incident.
Unauthorised encampments on private land present a challenge for landowners, managers, as well as the properties and people who live and work near them. This is not only because of the potential loss of earnings when land cannot be used for its business purpose, but also because the individuals may cause damage, steal parts of the infrastructure such as wiring, and leave rubbish behind.
Regardless of whether those occupying the land identify as travellers, New Age Hippies, Gypsies, Roma or other groups, the fundamental right to regain possession remains with the landowner. Common law provides the basis for this, allowing for the eviction of trespassers using Certificated Enforcement Agents (bailiffs), like the Strikes team, without having to use a court order.
What is Traveller Eviction?
“Traveller eviction” refers to the legal process of removing unauthorised encampments from land. This can involve common law actions by landowners, court orders, or, in some cases, police intervention, depending on the land’s ownership and specific circumstances. The team at Strikes have experts on hand to deal with the entire process from end-to-end.
The Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Act 2022 introduced new police powers aimed at addressing unauthorised encampments. However, in practice, the utilisation of these powers is often limited due to resource constraints and differing interpretations of jurisdiction. Police frequently assert that evictions on private land fall primarily within the realm of civil matters – and that’s where we step in.
The laws surrounding common land are clearly defined: the public has access rights for recreation, camping and driving caravans onto such land for habitation are prohibited. District councils also retain the authority to issue orders against these activities.
In practical terms, once instructed we would usually the travellers or trespassers served with a common law notice to leave the site, that same day. We will then remain on site and oversee the removal of the individuals and their vehicles, within the time frame that we have agreed with them. Following a successful eviction, implementing preventative measures, such as physical barriers, is crucial to deterring future incursions and safeguarding the land against reoccupation – this is something that we can assist with.
Please note that all of our agents are always dressed appropriately with body armour and centrally monitored and audited Body Worn Video.
