Trespass - to become a criminal offence?

[Si]

I'm informed by a reliable source that according to the tory manifesto, they wish to make trespass a criminal rather than civil offence. Their argument for this is that it will make it easier to remove travellers from private property.

But will this also have a detrimental effect on cyclists ? Now, there is the obvious argument that if you are not doing anything wrong then you've nothing to fear as you won't be trespassing anyway.....but back in the real world I'm aware that lots of cyclists use 'cheeky trails'.....and that this is often ignored as there isn't much the landowner can do about it. Would this change if trespass becomes a criminal offence? Remember it's not just MTBers - around town I know of a number of short cuts that avoid nasty roads and that are often used by cyclists even though they shouldn't really do so.

Storm in a tea cup or something to be worried about?

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Yeah that stuffs my wild camping, I can just imagine finding a spot late at night And waking up to a gun Shoved in your face

[pete75]

I'm informed by a reliable source that according to the tory manifesto, they wish to make trespass a criminal rather than civil offence. Their argument for this is that it will make it easier to remove travellers from private property.

But will this also have a detrimental effect on cyclists ? Now, there is the obvious argument that if you are not doing anything wrong then you've nothing to fear as you won't be trespassing anyway.....but back in the real world I'm aware that lots of cyclists use 'cheeky trails'.....and that this is often ignored as there isn't much the landowner can do about it. Would this change if trespass becomes a criminal offence? Remember it's not just MTBers - around town I know of a number of short cuts that avoid nasty roads and that are often used by cyclists even though they shouldn't really do so.

Storm in a tea cup or something to be worried about?

Interesting. It would mean anyone entering onto your property without your permission would be committing a criminal offence.
It appears to be aimed at the gypsy community, a group of people most potential Tory voters dislike at best.

https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/20 ... nt-notice/

[Bonefishblues]

Oh dear, sledgehammers and nuts...

[Paulatic]

It is true and it is something to be very worried about. There are a lot of wealthy people out there champing at the bit to slap up a load of no access signs and wander around with a 12 bore under their arm.
It’s on a par to their proposal for servicemen never to be challenged on their behaviour in action.
It’s all under the banner of "Get Brexit Done" it’s what people voted for apparently.

[pete75]

It is true and it is something to be very worried about. There are a lot of wealthy people out there champing at the bit to slap up a load of no access signs and wander around with a 12 bore under their arm.
It’s on a par to their proposal for servicemen never to be challenged on their behaviour in action.
It’s all under the banner of "Get Brexit Done" it’s what people voted for apparently.

Yep that's another one. If our servicemen are allowed to shoot POWs and do other things currently prohibited by the Geneva convention then the same will be done to our troops when they fall into enemy hands. Will Britain cease to be a signatory to the convention?

[reohn2]

Hi,
Yeah that stuffs my wild camping, I can just imagine finding a spot late at night And waking up to a gun Shoved in your face

At least you'll have your beloved brexit

[RickH]

There appears to be a single mention of trespass in their manifesto (PDF, p21, their bold)

We will tackle unauthorised traveller camps. We will give the police new powers to arrest and seize the property and vehicles of trespassers who set up unauthorised encampments, in order to protect our communities. We will make intentional trespass a criminal offence, and we will also give councils greater powers within the planning system.

[vegan dog]

There appears to be a single mention of trespass in their manifesto (PDF, p21, their bold)

We will tackle unauthorised traveller camps. We will give the police new powers to arrest and seize the property and vehicles of trespassers who set up unauthorised encampments, in order to protect our communities. We will make intentional trespass a criminal offence, and we will also give councils greater powers within the planning system.

That's really bad news for wild camping. In that case, 99% of all my camping while on tour is trespass. Personally I think we should have proper right of access laws like in Scotland.

[Mike Sales]

That's really bad news for wild camping. In that case, 99% of all my camping while on tour is trespass. Personally I think we should have proper right of access laws like in Scotland.

I agree, or like Sweden's Allemansratten.

https://www.treehugger.com/culture/allemansratten-swedish-right-roam.html

I have done a lot of surreptitious camping too. I expect, like me, you like to find a hidden space and go undetected.

[pete75]

There appears to be a single mention of trespass in their manifesto (PDF, p21, their bold)

We will tackle unauthorised traveller camps. We will give the police new powers to arrest and seize the property and vehicles of trespassers who set up unauthorised encampments, in order to protect our communities. We will make intentional trespass a criminal offence, and we will also give councils greater powers within the planning system.

Yes and it's stating they will make intentional trespass illegal. How many times do you think they should mention it - isn't the once sufficient?

[whoof]

I'm sure this has been mentioned on here before.
I lived in a flat with a shared garage. Someone broke in and stole 15 bikes. When the police were called they said they would log the incident but would not be attending.
My neighbour was burgled when called the police took over 24 hours to attend. I had seen two people looking suspicious looking at the flat (I thought they had left) and told my neighbour I could give a description. When the police did attend instead of coming next door and speaking to me they waited 6 weeks to phone me and ask if one of the people were wearing a hat.

If someone wild camps and a land owner asks them to leave and they do I cannot see the police attending. Even if the land owner called the police in the unlikely chance that they were to attend and the police asked you to leave and you did then they are far too busy to take it any further.

[pete75]

I'm sure this has been mentioned on here before.
I lived in a flat with a shared garage. Someone broke in and stole 15 bikes. When the police were called they said they would log the incident but would not be attending.
My neighbour was burgled when called the police took over 24 hours to attend. I had seen two people looking suspicious looking at the flat (I thought they had left) and told my neighbour I could give a description. When the police did attend instead of coming next door and speaking to me they waited 6 weeks to phone me and ask if one of the people were wearing a hat.

If someone wild camps and a land owner asks them to leave and they do I cannot see the police attending. Even if the land owner called the police in the unlikely chance that they were to attend and the police asked you to leave and you did then they are far too busy to take it any further.

That all depends on who the landowner is. Mentioning flats suggests you live in an urban area. Rural police have different priorities.

[Oldjohnw]

Travellers. Not often a specific group of people appear mentioned in legislation.

First they came for the Travellers...............

[whoof]

I'm sure this has been mentioned on here before.
I lived in a flat with a shared garage. Someone broke in and stole 15 bikes. When the police were called they said they would log the incident but would not be attending.
My neighbour was burgled when called the police took over 24 hours to attend. I had seen two people looking suspicious looking at the flat (I thought they had left) and told my neighbour I could give a description. When the police did attend instead of coming next door and speaking to me they waited 6 weeks to phone me and ask if one of the people were wearing a hat.


Whoof
If someone wild camps and a land owner asks them to leave and they do I cannot see the police attending. Even if the land owner called the police in the unlikely chance that they were to attend and the police asked you to leave and you did then they are far too busy to take it any further.

I come from a town in Cornwall with a population of 12000 and double that in summer. It doesn't even have a police station. I've also lived for 10 years on a farm in Devon. Nearest village didn't even have a pub or shop. There were few police stretched over a very large area and the paper work involved in an arrest and prosecution are the same regardless of where you are stationed. I

Whoof


Pete75th That all depends on who the landowner is. Mentioning flats suggests you live in an urban area. Rural police have different priorities.[/quote

Sorry using a mobile device and can't get the text in the quote to move.