Press Release

13 May 2024

Traveller encampment at Daedalus

Fareham Borough Council is pleased to announce that the recent illegal encampment at its Daedalus site at Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Park has now been rectified.

Around 14 vehicles, including eight caravans, gained illegal entry to the site on Friday 10 May, causing damage to the site’s entry barriers. They were served with a letter to quit by Council enforcement officers on Saturday morning. Fareham Borough Council has worked closely with Southampton Legal Services and Hampshire Police, which used its powers to serve a notice to leave under Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

An S61 enables police to direct individuals to leave the land and remove any vehicles or property they have with them. Failure to comply is a criminal offence and the occupants have subsequently left the site.

Cllr Joanne Burton, Executive Member for Health and Public Protection at Fareham Borough Council, said: “I am delighted that our enforcement officers were able to work so quickly and efficiently with the police and legal services to ensure that the travellers were moved on so quickly. We will now look to address the damage caused and clear the site of any waste that has been illegally discarded and apologise to residents for any inconvenience.”

If you would like to know more about the law in regard to travellers, go to: https://www.fareham.gov.uk/clean_and_tidy/enforcement/travellers.aspx

ENDS