Tuesday, 8 October 2019

Well, Boris, How About It..?

Basildon Council leader Gavin Callaghan confirmed the cost to clear up the mess at Queen, Elizabeth Park, Billericay - following the illegal site on August 26- was £1,052.
When you add up the cost of police and council staff time, that's probably a very - ahem - 'conservative' estimate...
Kerry Smith, deputy leader of Basildon Council, understands residents’ concerns when it comes to using taxpayers’ money to clear up the mess.
The councillor for Nethermayne Ward, said: “It’s taxpayers’ money.
“No one wants to pay for people who don’t want to keep the area tidy.
Flytipping costs the council £70,000 a year.
“Those responsible need the book thrown at them.”
They do indeed. And we all know why they don't get it.
Councillor David Harrison, chairman of the neighbourhoods and public spaces committee, added; “We would urge them to clear up after themselves.
“When travellers come onto public land, the council have to clear up after them.
“There’s no getting away from that.
“People would complain if we didn’t get rid of it.”
No-one's suggesting you don't, are they? They are merely suggesting that some way of recouping the costs of doing so from the culprits needs to be found.
Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, is hopeful incidents like this could be prevented by what is called the Irish Option.
This involves criminalising trespass - currently a civil offence - which would mean extra powers for authorities and police to move illegal sites on.
The MP, in a letter to Lib Dem councillor for Rayleigh James Newport, claimed this could become part of the Queen’s Speech - which details a list of bills proposed for the next Government.
Here's one for you, then, Boris. Will you step up?


Umbongo said...

Forgive my cynicism but who thinks that the police will do anything about traveller criminal trespass and related criminality unless they are badgered by the council and even then . . . . . .? Indeed, who thinks that the councils will do anything? The easy bit is passing the act - the difficult bit is getting it enforced.

TJ said...

A can of petrol would be far more effective...

Anonymous said...

UN less the law has been changed since I retired, section 25 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act allows an arrest if the offender' s name and address can not be verified or the service of a summons is impractical - perhaps Jaded can enlighten me on this.
As these Caravan Utilising Nomadic TravellerS appear to change their name more often than they change their underwear and, as travellers with no permanent address in the UK, it seems that that power of arrest can be utilised (I know that I've used that act quite a few times).
If that act is still valid, all it would take is some Police officers willing to carry out their jobs "without fear or favour".
Now waiting for the usual trolls to stick their oar in.