Part V U.K. Public Order: Collective Trespass or Nuisance on Land

Powers to remove trespassers on land E+W+S

Valid from 27/02/2004

[F1 62A Power to remove trespassers: alternative site available E+W

(1) If the senior police officer present at a scene reasonably believes that the conditions in subsection (2) are satisfied in relation to a person and land, he may direct the person—

(a) to leave the land;

(b) to remove any vehicle and other property he has with him on the land.

(2) The conditions are—

(a) that the person and one or more others (“the trespassers”) are trespassing on the land;

(b) that the trespassers have between them at least one vehicle on the land;

(c) that the trespassers are present on the land with the common purpose of residing there for any period;

(d) if it appears to the officer that the person has one or more caravans in his possession or under his control on the land, that there is a suitable pitch on a relevant caravan site for that caravan or each of those caravans;

(e) that the occupier of the land or a person acting on his behalf has asked the police to remove the trespassers from the land.

(3) A direction under subsection (1) may be communicated to the person to whom it applies by any constable at the scene.

(4) Subsection (5) applies if—

(a) a police officer proposes to give a direction under subsection (1) in relation to a person and land, and

(b) it appears to him that the person has one or more caravans in his possession or under his control on the land.

(5) The officer must consult every local authority within whose area the land is situated as to whether there is a suitable pitch for the caravan or each of the caravans on a relevant caravan site which is situated in the local authority’s area.

(6) In this section—

• “caravan” and “caravan site” have the same meanings as in Part 1 of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960;

• “relevant caravan site” means a caravan site which is—

  (a)

  situated in the area of a local authority within whose area the land is situated, and

  (b)

  managed by a relevant site manager;

• “relevant site manager” means—

  (a)

  a local authority within whose area the land is situated;

  (b)

  a registered social landlord;

• “registered social landlord” means a body registered as a social landlord under Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Housing Act 1996.

(7) The Secretary of State may by order amend the definition of “relevant site manager” in subsection (6) by adding a person or description of person.

(8) An order under subsection (7) must be made by statutory instrument and is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 62A inserted (E.W.) (27.2.2004) by Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 (c. 38), ss. 60, 93; S.I. 2003/3300, art. 3(b)