Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To phone the police

35 replies

Evilwater · 09/08/2014 19:10

Travellers have arrived and by the looks of it staying in the children's play field. The field consists of a football pitch and skating frame.
There is no running water and no toilets.

There is a caravan park not far from here. Why can't they stay there?

OP posts:
KissMyFatArse · 09/08/2014 19:12

Id call. Not ok taking over the kids playing area!!

SuzySheepSmellsNice · 09/08/2014 19:12

Call them now

CundtBake · 09/08/2014 19:13

Yes I'd call the police. Moving in on land that isn't used (although I'm pretty sure that's still illegal) is one thing but a children's play field is really not on.

elvenbread · 09/08/2014 19:13

They will have toilets and water in their vans. They won't go to a campsite as they stay together and not with judgemental strangers.

hippoesque · 09/08/2014 19:14

Phone them now. It takes ages to move them on.

gamerchick · 09/08/2014 19:15

There you go OP elevenbread has just offered to put them in her back garden.. I'm sure you'll get a PM shortly with an address.

dancestomyowntune · 09/08/2014 19:16

Ring the police. Iirc most travellers don't have toilet facilities in their vans actually. They believe it's unclean or something!

Original poster
Evilwater · 09/08/2014 19:18

Is 101 still the number to call?
elvenbread surley it's better to be judged at a camp site, rather than a children's park?

OP posts:
elvenbread · 09/08/2014 19:18

Gamerchick. I've just read my post back and it did sound bad. Fwiw I wasn't saying op was judgemental, just that a lot of people are judgemental about travellers. Shows like gypsy wedding etc don't help.

My hometown has a lot of travellers. Locally they aren't an issue in the slightest.

Groovee · 09/08/2014 19:19

We've just had them move from 2 local parks. Residents who's gardens back on to the parks found travellers doing their business in their bushes because they didn't have a toilet.

They left both parks in a mess! And at one they had to move after one of their teenage boys found it appropriate to assault a teenage girl at the park and she called the police.

dancestomyowntune · 09/08/2014 19:20

They won't go the campsite because then they would have to pay for a pitch.

Original poster
Evilwater · 09/08/2014 19:22

Well I have to pay rent, why should they get off?

OP posts:
ShirleyYoureNotSerious · 09/08/2014 19:22

In the first instance and if it's council land the unauthorised encampment needs to be identified to the local authority (city/district council) environmental health department, not the police. Police actionmight come into play way down the line with a section 61 CJPO Act enforcement but that's discouraged as it's expensive, heavy on resources, complicated and creates massive political sensitivity.

Whitewhine · 09/08/2014 19:24

elvenbread whilst the group of travellers may have toilet facilities in their vans, it is my experience that they either don't use them or empty them wherever they like.

A group of 5 caravans, transit vans etc. moved on from our local park this morning having been there a week. I realise I am only witnessing the behaviour of this particular group, however grown men were seen squatting on the grass in full view during daylight hours (police got called), my neighbour had excrement dumped over her fence from a waste tank and the general mess left behind was absolutely disgraceful.

Luckily the council environmental team were waiting to clear the site as they were leaving. They wore biohazard suits and took 3 hours (4 men) to return it back to normal. I know this as my house overlooks the site. It included broken bikes, a BBQ, rubble & bricks, household waste, clothing, toys and tree branches.

The anti-social and intimidating behaviour makes me not want to welcome these folks back again - so be it if I'm thought of as racist or intolerant. Forgive me if I'm glad to see the back of them.

LST · 09/08/2014 19:26

Police won't do a tap. We called the police when the first one pulled up... 6 weeks and 35 canavans later they managed to move them on Angry

LST · 09/08/2014 19:27

Sorry that should read 25.

Original poster
Evilwater · 09/08/2014 19:27

Phoned the council, and they are aware. Is it worth phoning the police too?

OP posts:
Original poster
Evilwater · 09/08/2014 19:28

They didn't look short of a penny. One looked like a brand new car.

OP posts:
Whitewhine · 09/08/2014 19:28

I wouldn't phone the police unless you witness antisocial behaviour. I'm sure they will be aware already!

FlossyMoo · 09/08/2014 19:32

If it is council land the police won't do anything at the moment unless there is a public order offence or criminal damage).

The council will need to evict them which is when the police usually get involved. Ime travellers tend to move late on Friday evenings and weekends due to council office being closed so they can then have somewhere to stay for at least 3 nights. It can take along time for them to move on or sometimes they move as soon as the council officials visit them with the notice.

The police may go and see them to sort of announce they know they are there but I doubt they will ask them to move on.

ShirleyYoureNotSerious · 09/08/2014 19:33

You phoned the council this evening and were able to get hold of someone who could tell you that they're aware? Impressive!

Original poster
Evilwater · 09/08/2014 19:33

I found a out of hours number.

OP posts:
ShirleyYoureNotSerious · 09/08/2014 19:35

Oh, I'm not disputing that you did, Evilwater, I'm just impressed at the efficiency of your OOH service in comparison to the one here.

Original poster
Evilwater · 09/08/2014 19:40

I have to wait till Monday. :(

OP posts:
LST · 09/08/2014 19:53

Wow at your council Shock You can't get in touch with ours on regular working hours Grin