COMMUNITY leaders are set to lobby the Government in a bid to make trespassing a criminal offence and clamp down on unauthorised traveller encampments.

As reported, trespassing is a civil offence in the UK, whereas in Ireland trespassing became a criminal act in 2002.

Now, at a full council meeting members of Test Valley councillors backed a cross-party motion to urge the Government to take action to change the law after the borough suffered a spate of traveller incidents.

However, one councillor did stress the local authority should make it clear when they write to central Government this is a “last ditch act”, adding “genuine nomadic travellers” should be protected.

It comes after the council announced in July that it had secured a High Court injunction to stop the set up of unauthorised encampments on certain areas of land.

Cllr Alan Dowden said: “Those who have had the very unpleasant experience of dealing with an unauthorised encampment of travellers, often in numbers of 30 or more caravans, plus cars and accompanying work vehicles, are painfully aware of the enormous impact to individuals, authorities and the wider community. A cost that is environmentally, financially and emotionally damaging.

“I have dealt with six occasions of unauthorised encampment on parish land when North Baddesley was part of Valley Park. I have been verbally threatened, had a knife pulled and brandished at me in front of two policemen, who remained powerless against a large group of male travellers.”

Cllr Phil Bundy said: “

The

cost of clearing up afterwards can run into thousands, resulting in a heavy burden on the taxpayer when it occurs on council land and crippling farmers, as well as other private landowners when travellers target their fields and open spaces.”

However, Liberal Democrat Cllr Sandra Gidley said: “I do think we need to make it clear when we write to central Government this is a last ditch act, because I do think genuine nomadic travellers do need to be protected.”

As reported, residents condemned a group of travellers who parked up on a recreation ground in the summer.

Hampshire police were alerted to the unauthorised encampment on Friday, June 26, after caravans arrived at Nursling Recreation Ground, Nursling Street.