Many residents will recall the extreme difficulties that unauthorised encampments caused residents across the town in recent years. Harlow’s MP, Robert Halfon, worked hard with the police and council at the time to tackle the issue but it was always clear that the police needed further powers to deal with the issue straight away.
Mr Halfon has consistently campaigned in Parliament for the police to receive greater powers and this week he voted for “tough new measures” to tackle any unauthorised encampments immediately.
The Harlow MP voted not just to establish a new law which “creates powers for the police to seize property (including vehicles) where individuals reside or intend to reside on land with a vehicle” but also to very much strengthen the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 which will ensure such encampments cannot return once they have been moved on.
The new offence will target trespassers who intend to reside on any private or public land in vehicles without permission, and where they are causing significant disruption, distress or harm to local communities.
Police will be given powers to seize vehicles and arrest offenders. The measures will target harmful encampments which reflect badly on the wider community. Existing police powers are also being strengthened to ensure trespassers leave land and do not return.
Commenting on his successful campaign, Mr Halfon said: “I have worked hard in Parliament over many years to ensure that the police have the powers they need to ensure Harlow is never again blighted by unauthorised encampments in the way we saw a few years ago.
“I led a parliamentary debate on the matter, have met numerous times with Ministers and the Police Commissioner for Essex and have raised this on many occasions in Parliament.
“I am pleased that this campaign has resulted in new laws and tough new powers for the police to be established and I voted for these measures on Monday in Parliament - as I pledged to do.
“I will continue to work hard to ensure that our town never again faces the difficulties brought by unauthorised encampments again.”
