§ Mr. AspinwallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision exists for compensating landowners who incur costs in obtaining repossession orders against trespassers.
§ Mr. John PattenIt is open to a landowner who incurs costs in obtaining a repossession order against a trespasser to apply to the court for an order for costs against the trespasser.
§ Mr. AspinwallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Avon and Somerset constabulary on enforcing section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986 to deal with unlawful occupation of land by travellers.
§ Mr. Peter LloydIt is entirely an operational matter for the police to decide, in the light of all the circumstances, whether or not to exercise the powers available to them under section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986.
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 22 May at columns 487–88 that guidance on the use of section 39 had been issued to the police. A copy is available in the Library.
§ Mr. AspinwallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about trespassers at Charmy Down, near Bath and other sites in the area.
§ Mr. John PattenNone.
§ Mr. AspinwallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the adequacy of funding for police forces to apply section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe basis on which police forces are funded is set out in the Police Act 1964. There are no special provisions for funding police action under section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986.