Council leader calls on government to criminalise illegal camping - Scotland

From STV

The leader of Aberdeen City Council is calling on the Scottish Government to criminalise illegal camping following a spate of "disruptive" Traveller sites which have appeared across the city.

Labour councillor Barney Crockett wants MSPs to proceed with the plans to introduce a bylaw to tackle rogue Travellers, which were agreed at a full council meeting in May.

Over 40 caravans set up camp on Aberdeen Wanderers' pitches on Thursday, June 6, before moving 100m to Hazlehead Academy’s playing fields on Tuesday night.

Councillor Crockett said: "These sites are an urgent necessity - the situation with the Travellers is continuing to go on.

"It is disruptive to the local communities and we are being tasked with cleaning up the rubbish that is left as well as the great expense of having to go to court and get eviction orders.

"At the moment it is just pillar to post and every time they pitch up illegally we have to go back to court and start the process again."

After an immediate eviction order was granted on Wednesday to move the Travellers from Hazlehead Academy, over 40 caravans pitched up on green space beside Queen’s Links Leisure Park at Aberdeen beach.

The setting up of illegal camps is currently a civil offence but if reclassified as criminal it will give greater enforcement powers to police.

Councillor Crockett added: "The Scottish government should let us go forward with our plans. This is a local issue that is becoming a greater problem for the people of Aberdeen. We currently have 70 [Travellers] and up in the area.

"We need a common-sense local solution to the problem we have here in this city, which is why we are proposing a bylaw which would specifically prevent encampments on playing fields, among other sensitive sites.

"We remain committed to creating halting sites for temporary stays. But we need as many safeguards as possible to protect the amenity of citizens and to accommodate the needs of travelling people."

Aberdeen City Council have not yet filed a court order to move the group, who are believed to be the same Travellers from Hazlehead Academy.

A council spokesperson said: "Our Gypsy-Traveller liaison officer will continue to monitor this encampment and we will be considering seeking an eviction order if necessary."

see also: The Press and Journal - Evicted Travellers pitch up on land across road

The Evening Express - Evicted Travellers pitch up at Aberdeen beach