Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill — Clause 62 — Offence Relating to Residing on Land Without Consent in or With a Vehicle — 5 Jul 2021 at 18:30

The majority of MPs voted not to extend the circumstances, in England, in which the police can order trespassers intending to reside on land to leave that land to include where disruption and distress are being caused.

MPs were considering the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill^[1][2]

The amendment rejected by the majority of MPs in this vote was:

• Amendment 8, page 56, line 23, leave out Clause 62

Has it not been rejected this would have removed Clause 62^[3] which was titled: Amendments to existing powers and provided for amendments to Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (power to remove trespassers on land). Prior to the proposal being voted on here Section 61 stated^[3]the police could direct those trespassing on land, with an intent to reside there if conditions were met including them having six or more vehicles or if they had:

• caused damage to the land or to property on the land or used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards the occupier, a member of his family or an employee or agent of his,

The Bill proposed amending that condition, in England, to:

• caused damage, disruption or distress

with a definitions for those terms.

Failure to comply with the direction is a criminal offence.

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• [1] Parliament's webpage on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, Parliament.uk
• [2] Explanatory notes to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, Parliament.uk
• [3] Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, as introduced on 12 May 2021, Parliament.uk
• [4] Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 as of 31 October 2011 (before the proposal being voted on here), Parliament.uk

Debate in Parliament |