I am grateful to constituents who have recently
emailed me to express their concerns over the government’s plans to criminalise
unauthorised encampments, which includes a proposal to criminalise trespassing.
The emails began by asking if I would consider
debating the matter. I would like to first remind constituents that it is not
down to me but the Government and the Leader of the House to set aside time for
debates and legislations.
I am afraid that claim that “there is no need to do
this, as people already respect people's property”, is clearly misguided.
Trespassing and unauthorised encampments on private
property or land have caused misery to many in Cornwall and the SW, with
increasing reports of damage to property, noise, abuse and littering in recent
years.
The public want to see their communities protected
and for the police to crack down effectively on trespassers.
The Government’s proposals aim to ensure these
encampments can be challenged and removed as quickly as possible.
A consultation ran from 5 November to 4 March on
the Government’s website, inviting constituents and other concerned groups to
give their opinion.
The consultation has now closed and the Government
will be publishing the results and its response soon.
Law and order is rightly a focus of this
Government, which was re-elected in December with a strong majority to carry
out this mandate.
We will continue to have mechanisms via the courts
and important institutions like the ECHR which we are signed up to, to
challenge any infringement on human rights.
But ultimately I believe what most constituents
want to see is for anti-social, disruptive and illegal behaviour dealt with
more effectively. And this Government is getting on with that task.
