𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗿𝘂𝗻

The situation continues to escalate. Every green recreation space is either defended or has been occupied.

Below is a full update on the situation in and around Goring, Ferring, Kingston and East Preston.

Last week I sent a report to the Home Secretary ahead of visiting the sites on Friday. I have now written urgently again to the Home Secretary, copied to council, parish and police leaders.

A simple but urgent request is for her to meet local leaders and representatives to discuss this critical situation involving incursions by caravans and travellers.

I have discussed the details of the problems with the Sussex Police Chief Constable. We know Angmering too has been affected. The Police and Crime Commissioner has today also said she is prepared to come to meet local representatives.

Residents rightly want effective action to avoid the intense disruption of their own peaceful enjoyment and use of public and private land. The ongoing lack of action to address the repeated incisions is not acceptable.

We can all appreciate the actions of the police and local authorities and we see first-hand the work they are doing. They do what they can within the existing law. More resources are needed for the local councils and the police with their valiant support officers.

When the intensity and the scale of the occupations grow, the responses must also change.

Reports of attempted and actual forced entry into estates and community grounds are highly distressing. Reports of thefts from shops, vehicles and general illegal activity are deplorable. The situation is frightening for the vulnerable and the elderly.

I thank all agencies who have updated me hourly.

Bollards have been broken and historical flint walls scrapped down to enable passage. Council teams have been ready to replace and reinforce protections of green spaces once travellers have been moved on.

I shall continue to support effective coordination between police in Arun and Worthing, and for each local authority to have a reduction of the disruption and costs of managing unauthorised occupations with their consequential issues.

I hope the Home Secretary will join me and our council and police leaders to see why we need more laws to combat this illegal and criminal activity. Whilst respecting the nomadic choices of the group, criminal behaviour is not acceptable.

Many are doing what they can, when they can. More is needed.