Restricting Access: Travellers

It is an offence to take a motor vehicle on to common land unless it is to park within 15 yards of a road. Where a large number of vehicles are parked on common land and it appears to be the intention of the occupiers of the vehicles to reside there then there may be scope to invoke the Public Order Act 1986.

This requires the involvement of the police and, in order to use it, it is necessary for the landowner (or commoners acting on his behalf) to have taken reasonable steps to ask the occupiers of the vehicles to leave.

To be recognised as an offence, the trespassers should either have caused damage to the property, have used threatening or abusive language or behaviour towards the occupier or his family or agent, or there should be twelve or more vehicles on the common. Under such circumstances a senior police officer can direct the trespassers to leave and, if they fail to do so, or return within three months, they will be liable to imprisonment or a fine.