Police figures show rise in illegal Traveller sites in Mole Valley - Surrey

POLICE dealt with more than five times as many illegal Traveller sites in Mole Valley last year than in 2009, new figures have revealed.

Statistics released to the Advertiser under the Freedom of Information Act show there were seven illegal "incursions" by Travellers in 2009, then 22 in 2010 and 40 in 2011.

Susan King, who lives on the gypsy site in River Lane, Leatherhead, says the figures prove Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) must provide more permanent sites for families.

"They can't just make us disappear, they have to give permission on sites that people are trying to make for themselves or create new sites," she said.

"This (the River Lane planning dispute) has been a nine-year battle for us, just four families, so how many families are in Mole Valley or moving through Mole Valley that have got nowhere to go?"

There are 19 authorised Gypsy sites in Surrey, four of which are located in Mole Valley.

Mrs King added: "There are a lot of Mole Valley gypsies that have got nowhere to go, who double up on plots.

"There are people that have been in Mole Valley all their lives, not just people who are moving through. It's absolutely ridiculous."

A Surrey Police spokeswoman said the force assists MVDC and Surrey County Council (SCC) when eviction is required.

"When the land is privately owned, police have limited powers and it would be down to the landowner to have them evicted," she said. "If the landowner took this course of action, they could then request the support of Surrey Police.

"Other grounds to evict travellers from private land would be if they were being abusive or had committed criminal damage.

"Surrey Police works in partnership with SCC and other agencies and provides support to those agencies to effectively manage the tensions associated with unlawful Traveller encampments and the settled community."

MVDC officials said the information supplied to the Advertiser by Surrey Police refers to "reports of an incursion rather than the number of incursions", but the police statement claims the figures are for "incursions in Mole Valley".