Demands for police to evict travellers from Black Country parks
Police should be laying down the law and using powers to evict travellers illegally setting up camps on Black Country parks, insists a councillor.
The response from West Midlands Police over camps popping up around Dudley has been branded inadequate and unacceptable by Councillor Qadar Zada.
The representative for Netherton, Woodside and St Andrew's Ward, said: "Other areas in the country have exercised the power section 61 (an eviction order) but why can't police do this here?
"Police threatened to use the order one time to a group of travellers camped on Woodside Park, and the next day they left. It is unacceptable. Overnight communities have been infiltrated. Councillors were left helpless and and residents said police weren't taking calls. The people who came to the rescue was the council." Dudley Council say travellers were this week occupying four sites in the Dudley borough including Wollaston Community Association, Flood Street, St Paul's Drive and Bumble Hole Nature Reserve.
Chief Inspector Simon Inglis, from Dudley Police, said: "We were called to reports of travellers damaging locks to get onto council land on St Paul's Drive, Hurst Hill, on Tuesday at around 10:15pm.
"Officers went to the scene to investigate and engage with the travellers and local residents. They've also been there yesterday to address any concerns and investigate the reports of damage. However it is important to note that as this is local authority land the lead organisation is Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council and we are working closely with them to manage this situation.
"My message to the local community is that we are there keeping a close eye on the situation and will continue to be so and support them until the caravans and vehicles have been moved. I understand the concern local residents and business have, but please be rest assured that the location will be returned to a position of normality over the coming days." Councillor Hilary Bills, for Halesowen North ward, said the group on St Paul's Drive had move on after previously occupying land on Hurst Green Park in Halesowen.
She said: "They moved off land at Hurst Green Park around 10pm on Tuesday and literally moved onto the new land within two minutes. It is the same group where there was around 40 caravans.
"The council went to court on Wednesday for repossession of the park." Dudley Council said several travellers were still occupying land on Bumble Hole Nature Reserve yesterday but received a possession order to move them on.
