Written question asked by Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party) on Thursday, 10 December 2020, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 December 2020. It was answered by Kit Malthouse (Conservative) on Wednesday, 16 December 2020 on behalf of the Home Office.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the Friends, Families and Travellers 2020 report, Police renew calls for more Gypsy and Traveller sites in opposition to the criminalisation of unauthorised encampments, published 9 September 2020, that concluded (a) 21.7 per cent of police respondents agreed with the Home Office proposals to criminalise unauthorised encampments and (b) 93.7 per cent of police bodies called for site provision as the solution to unauthorised encampments.

Answer

The Home Office has conducted a public consultation on strengthening the powers available to the police to deal with unauthorised encampments. The Government will consider all views and representations made when reaching our decision on the next steps.

Secondary information