Traveller incidents drop by nearly 75%

The number of illegal traveller encampments has dropped across Adur and Worthing by nearly 75 per cent, latest figures show.
Travellers on Southwick GreenTravellers on Southwick Green
Travellers on Southwick Green

Between April 2014 and April 2015, Adur and Worthing experienced 61 encampments.

But since the opening of a new transit site in Westhampnett, near Chichester, the number of encampments in the past 12 months dropped to 16.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The site’s construction gave police new powers to move travellers on – with officers able to order groups to leave the county for three months if they refuse to move to the facility.

Adur and Worthing councils director for communities John Mitchell said: “These figures show that the Chichester transit site has proved to be a successful resource for the councils and the travelling community, resulting in dramatically fewer illegal encampments in the area.

“It reveals the effectiveness of the partnership between ourselves and the other authorities involved in setting up the site and in the use of powers to tackle this problem. Adur and Worthing councils and its residents will also benefit from a substantial reduction in the inconvenience and costs associated with dealing with illegal encampments.”

Related topics: