July news

Travellers moved on after just eight hours

Travellers were moved on from playing fields in Portsmouth on Friday after just eight hours, thanks to the swift actions of Portsmouth City Council’s community wardens and the police.

Following a call from quick-thinking local residents who alerted the city council’s city helpdesk just after 1pm on Friday (4 July), a team of eight community wardens joined the police at a city council owned recreation ground in Sywell Crescent, Anchorage Park.

Although six caravans were already on the site, the police and community wardens worked together to prevent any more vehicles from getting onto the playing fields. The community wardens called in extra security and alerted parking officers from the council’s traffic management service, who were able to move on the travellers who had been unable to get onto the site and were parked illegally on verges.

As a result of the actions of the police and community wardens, the travellers left the site of their own accord at around 9pm on Friday – just eight hours after they arrived. A security presence remained on the site throughout the weekend to prevent the travellers from returning.

Council Leader, Gerald Vernon-Jackson, said: “I would like to thank the community wardens and the police for responding so quickly to the traveller encampment. Thanks to their swift actions to secure the site, and quick-thinking local residents who raised the alarm, the travellers moved on a few hours after they arrived. This is great news for the local community in Anchorage Park, and especially for local children who use the recreation ground.

“Our community warden service is committed to protecting our communities by preventing travellers from setting up encampments in Portsmouth, and the team regularly check more than 50 sites to make sure they are secure.”

Sector Inspector Gary Munt, who leads the Safer Neighbourhood Teams in Fratton, said: “Friday’s events provide a great example of the police and community wardens working with residents for a positive result. Situations such as these can be difficult but with the correct actions taken at the earliest opportunities, as happened on Friday, good results can be achieved, and now the park is once again available for everyone to use safely.”

Date : 07 July 2008