Wakefield Dispersal Orders target "travellers"

By Tony Gardner / York Evening Post
Wakefield Council is (surprisingly) the first to use anti-social behaviour legislation to create no-go areas for travellers.(pic - travellers camp cleanup in Castleford YEP photo)

The council has authorised West Yorkshire Police to designate five Dispersal Areas under Section 30 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, ( groups causing significant and persistent anti-social behaviour ) which gives police powers to immediately remove travellers or arrest them if they enter the areas.

The 5 – including school playing fields which are constantly under invasion – have suffered major damage and disturbance.

The legal orders are for June to October 2005 – the peak time for illegal encampment invasions in the Wakefield area.

The areas, which have been subject to "significant and persistent invasions", were designated following a consultation process between elected members, council officers and the police.

Other sites across the district are to be looked at under the same legislation.
A police spokesman said: "We will continue to work with the council and travelling community to resolve any problems which arise from such activities." The no-go areas are: Spring Mills Playing Fields, Ossett; Gawthorpe Recreation Ground, Childswell Lane, Gawthorpe; Kettlethorpe High School Playing Fields, Kettlethorpe; Normanton Cricket Club, Church Lane, Normanton; Land behind Sandal Magna School, Agbrigg Road, Agbrigg.

On the same day a group of travellers who left behind £10,000 of damage at Sandal Rugby Club invaded the grounds Featherstone Lions' junior rugby league teams.

Mr Fowler added: "I am concerned that other land owners might not have the same protection we now have. The law of aggravated trespass has existed for many years now and has never been enforced. This could have been used to protect Sandal Rugby Club last week but it wasn't."

Leeds City Councillors said they would be keen to get similar bans imposed on areas in the city blighted by illegal camps.

Leeds City Coun. Les Carter, with responsibility for travellers, said: "This is excellent news and we would be keen to look closely at how the orders have been achieved."

Contact for more info : tony.gardner@ypn.co.uk
More info in Guradian Article 3/6/05

01 June 2005 ..... sounds like a good idea ... why did it take so long ?