The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson is holding a summit on February 10 about unauthorised travellers encampments.
The PCC seeks to bringing together local councils, the police, concerned residents and traveller groups to work on a solution to unauthorised encampments. He’s also invited neighbouring shire councils to work on a regional approach so unauthorised camps do not simply move.
The summit will look at the issues the West Midlands is facing, what is working and what is not and if additional powers are needed for local agencies. The authorities admit to years years of frustration from all concerned at the lack of a workable solution.
David Jamieson said: “Effectively dealing with unauthorised traveller encampments is a really important issue that requires us all to work together. I have organised this summit in response to calls from the public and to produce practical recommendations that will make a difference. I hope that best practice from across the region will be adopted and that proposals for extra powers from the government emerge.”
The event will be a public meeting at Lloyd House in Birmingham, also webcast live. Ahead of the day, the PCC is inviting online those who have experiences of such camps to send words and images.
The September 2016 print issue of Professional Security featured security guarding at industrial estates at Rainham on the outskirts of east London, that have similarly suffered from traveller incursions and dumping of rubbish, and have been forced to put up berms or ditches, pictured.
