Reporting procedures - Unlawful Encampments

Parent Category: Parish Council

Category: Contact Council

Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 November 2018 14:28

Published on Tuesday, 13 November 2018 14:19

Written by Parish Clerk

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October 2018 

• Any new encampment observed by councillors should be reported to the Clerk, who will then report directly to the police and to the Borough Council enforcement and legal departments.
• If an encampment is reported to councillors or the Clerk by a resident, the resident should be strongly encouraged to report it directly to the police and to the Borough Council enforcement and legal departments.  The Clerk will also report the incident.
• It should be made clear to residents that the Parish Council has no power to deal directly with such incidents unless the encampment is on Parish Council land.  The Parish Council can report incidents to the relevant body, as can residents.  It should also be made clear to residents that their reports to the relevant body carry just as much weight as a report from the Parish Council, and multiple reports give weight to the issue.
• If an encampment is on Parish Council land, the procedure is the same – report to the police and the Borough Council enforcement and legal departments.  All Parish Council land falls within the area covered by the Borough wide injunction, and therefore the police have the power to move encampments on within 24 hours.
• Parish Councillors should never attend a site nor engage in any exchanges with occupants in the capacity as a Parish Councillor.
• The Parish Council will liaise with the relevant authorities regarding any clear up required.
• If there is activity on a site already covered by a separate injunction to the Borough wide injunction, then it should be reported directly the Borough Council enforcement and legal departments. 

Finally, to re-iterate: any resident making a report to councillors or the Clerk should be advised to report the incident directly to the Borough Council enforcement and legal departments.    

Contact details for the appropriate agencies: 

Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council: Tel 01256 844844, or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  More information can be found on the BDBC website https://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/encampments

Police: Tel 101, or via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.