HC Deb 22 February 1999 vol 326 cc124-5W
Mr. Gill

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of trespass onto private property have resulted in prosecution in each of the past 10 years. [71526]

Mr. Boateng

Information given in the table is for criminal prosecutions under sections 61 and 68 to 71 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

In the past, the police and courts had dealt with trespass situations covered by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act using pre-existing powers and offences. These included sections of the Public Order Act 1986, common law breach of the peace, public nuisance and criminal damage. Information on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database does not identify the circumstances of such offences.

Number of defendants prosecuted for criminal trespass offences under sections 61, 68 and 69 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, England and Wales, 1995–97
Offence description 1995 1996 1997
S61 Power to remove trespassers on land 4 4 15
S68 Offence of aggravated trespass 111 359 160
S69 Powers to remove persons committing or participating in aggravated trespass 15 27 25
S70(pt)1 Take part in prohibited assembly
S70(pt)1 Inciting another to take part in a prohibited assembly 2 2
S70(pt)1 Inciting another to take part in a prohibited trespassory assembly 1 2
S712 Ignoring a directive not to proceed in the direction of the assembly (trespassory) 1
1As added to Part II S14A and 14B of Public Order Act 1986
2As added to Part II S14C of Public Order Act 1986

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