COMMUNITY leaders hope police will start using powers to move on illegal travellers as taxpayers’ money spirals out of control to foot the bill.

A round-table meeting between police bosses and council leaders will soon take place to discuss how to tackle a rapid increase in illegal incursions across the county.

The meeting was prompted following Brentwood Council leader Louise Mckinlay’s open letter to PCC Roger Hirst, questioning the force’s reluctance to use Section 61 notices. 

The notices grant officers powers to instantly move travellers on.

In response to Ms Mckinlay’s letter - outlining Brentwood Council had already shelled out £10,500 this year for court orders and bailiffs alone – Mr Hirst admitted solutions were needed. 

He said: “The aim of the meeting will be to identify the issues that are causing most concern and agree solutions.

"The roundtable will discuss the development of a strategic framework for addressing the issue of unauthorised traveller encampments, ensuring that police and local authorities continue to work together, as partners, to identify and implement solutions within the framework of the law.”

Chelmsford Council has this year spent about £100,000 on evictions according to Council leader Roy Whitehead, while the borough has suffered six incursions in the last five months. 

Mr Whitehead expressed his relief following the announcement. 

He said: “We have put a lot of pressure on police to help us handle travellers and have had to go to the chief constable to ask why they are not doing anything. 
“As an authority we do appreciate resources are low for Essex Police, it takes a lot of officers to move on an encampment of travellers. 
“I think we’ve spent about £100,000 on removing them this year.

“It is a relief that this meeting will now go ahead.”

An excerpt of Ms McKinlay’s letter said: "As you will be aware, the Borough of Brentwood has been experiencing an increased number of unauthorised incursions on publicly owned land this year.

"To put this in to context, last year, there were nineteen incursions from May to October but this year, as of today there have already been twenty.

"For the Council, there is the financial cost of successive incursions, already at nearly £10,500 this year for court orders and bailiffs alone."