Milton Keynes is facing a serious problem – unauthorised encampments are on the rise. As of August 2023, we have had 73 unauthorised encampments in Milton Keynes. The power to disperse illegal encampments sits with Milton Keynes City Council (MKCC) and Thames Valley Police (TVP). Milton Keynes Conservative Councillors have been liaising with the Council and the police as a matter of urgency when each of the illegal incursions that has taken place. However, the process is slow and tedious.
The petition calls upon Milton Keynes City Council to:
· Sign the Thames Valley Police and Local Authority Joint Protocol for dealing with Unauthorised Encampments: without delay to ensure that Milton Keynes City Council and Thames Valley Police work together to effectively manage unauthorised encampments and minimise their impact.
· Strengthen Barriers: Introduce strategic boulders and bollards to secure the entrances to redways, thereby deterring unauthorised vehicles from infiltrating, occupying, and setting up camps.
· Expedite Resolution: Mobilize the Milton Keynes City Council Environmental Crime Team to enact swift measures for relocation, coupled with adherence to the extended period of prohibited return, recently extended from three months to 12 months.
· Seek Sustainable Solutions: Consider a dedicated alternate site, designated for the encampment of travellers, somewhere that won't disrupt residents and encourage problems to occur.
Every year, taxpayers bear the weight of rising council taxes, while their homes, neighbourhoods, and families bear the brunt of the impact of violations. This cycle of intrusion and abuse must come to an end. Local residents demand action!
Add your voice to the growing list of residents in Milton Keynes demanding that the Labour/Lib Dems run Milton Keynes City Council take immediate action.
TVP on unauthorised-encampments
More info on S77 and S78 - Trespass and Nuisance on Land: The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 - Tables of Offences involving Trespass
Unauthorised encampments: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 factsheet (Updated 20 August 2022)Unauthorised encampments: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 factsheet Updated 20 August 2022
The petition is available here for your support and signature:
