Reform UK has pledged to give police tougher powers to remove unauthorised traveller encampments, with Reform Shadow Home Secretary Zia Yusuf promising to end “two-tier policing”.
“For too long law-abiding citizens have suffered under two-tier policing as travellers build unauthorised encampments”, Yusuf said.
“And fly-tipping has been all but legalised. Reform will end this.”
Under a Reform government, police would be able to issue on-the-spot orders requiring unauthorised encampments to leave, with those refusing facing arrest.
Reform also proposes raising fly-tipping fines to £5,000 and tightening the Equality Act to address a discrimination loophole.
Yusuf said the changes would mean “victims no longer needing to rely on councils to have unauthorised camps removed”.
“Police will attend, make arrests and seize vehicles”, he said.
The impact on residents was highlighted by Reform Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick during a visit to a traveller site, where he described rubbish being left around and babies’ nappies being thrown into hedgerows.
Jenrick said a previous clean-up had cost the council almost £4,000, alongside legal fees.
“They’re all paying their council tax, they’re working hard, they’re getting up in the morning”, he said of local residents.
“Law-abiding taxpayers are absolutely sick to death of other people taking the piss.”
He added: “It’s not fair, it’s not right. We’re going to fight against this.”
“For too long law-abiding citizens have suffered under two-tier policing as travellers build unauthorised encampments”, Yusuf said.
“And fly-tipping has been all but legalised. Reform will end this.”
Under a Reform government, police would be able to issue on-the-spot orders requiring unauthorised encampments to leave, with those refusing facing arrest.
Reform also proposes raising fly-tipping fines to £5,000 and tightening the Equality Act to address a discrimination loophole.
Yusuf said the changes would mean “victims no longer needing to rely on councils to have unauthorised camps removed”.
“Police will attend, make arrests and seize vehicles”, he said.
The impact on residents was highlighted by Reform Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick during a visit to a traveller site, where he described rubbish being left around and babies’ nappies being thrown into hedgerows.
Jenrick said a previous clean-up had cost the council almost £4,000, alongside legal fees.
“They’re all paying their council tax, they’re working hard, they’re getting up in the morning”, he said of local residents.
“Law-abiding taxpayers are absolutely sick to death of other people taking the piss.”
He added: “It’s not fair, it’s not right. We’re going to fight against this.”
