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Police in Basingstoke have exercised powers to evict travellers from an area of land in Old Basing and from an empty industrial estate in Roentgen Road, Basingstoke.
On Wednesday, July 4, officers served a notice to a group of travellers who had congregated on Basingstoke Common. They had been in the area since Wednesday, June 27 and were asked to leave under Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. Basingstoke and Deane District Commander, Chief Inspector Jill Baldry, said: “The conditions around using the powers available to evict travellers when they are trespassing are fairly stringent and we only use them when the criteria are met. “From the outset we sought the co-operation of the travellers and with an effective use of police resources and council employees. “Some of the travellers had moved to another site in Roentgen Road prior to the Section 61 direction; however officers attended this site with the owner and asked these travellers to leave under the Act. “The travellers left the borough of Basingstoke and Deane without any significant problems. “A clear-up operation began immediately after their departure and together with Basingstoke and Deane borough council the areas were made inaccessible to future encampments. "This is the second time this year we have had to make use of the powers available to us and we will continue to use them when the criteria to do so applies."
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