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Travellers: Caravan Sites

Asked by Sir James CleverlyConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 26 May 2026UIN 186

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to improve coordination between local authorities and the police in relation to (a) unauthorised traveller encampments and (b) unauthorised traveller development.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook

My Department has made no specific assessment of the potential implications for national policy of unauthorised traveller development taking place on weekends, including bank holiday weekends, when local authority planning departments are closed.

The government expects local planning authorities to work proactively and collaboratively with other agencies to respond to unauthorised encampments and development.

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