Caravan and motorhome owners could risk having their vehicles seized by police for parking in places without the landowners’ permission, if a new Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Bill is passed.
The Express reports that the bill will include farmland, car parks, and lay-bys, and landowners need to file a complaint with the police, who, if the bill passes, will not be on the side of caravaners.
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill passed its third reading through the House of Commons with a resounding majority of 100, and much of the attention that surrounds the bill is on the impact it will have on protests after several instances of disruption over the past 12 months.
It means that caravaners found to be trespassing could risk having their vehicles seized, fined up to £2,500, or even receive a prison sentence if they refuse to move when asked.
A petition has been launched by the author of How To Live Off Grid, Nick Rosen, in an attempt to get the government to amend the bill.
The petition states: “People tend to group together for security and companionship, but their occupation of land is due to the housing and job shortage. It does not amount to creating a protest site.”
The petition has so far gained over 44,000 signatures, which means the government will respond to the petition, which is expected within the next two weeks.
Overnight parking in a leisure vehicle in England and Wales is illegal, although wild camping is permitted in Scotland.
Currently, section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 provides the police with two powers to remove unauthorised encampments, including if an unauthorised camper has caused damage to the land and if they have been abusive or threatening.
Whilst almost all campers do not cause problems, the implications of the bill may be enough to turn some people away.
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