Unauthorised Encampments
Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FOI/26/010181/N
Version Date: 19/08/2026
In the period between 28th June 2022 and 30th June 2026, please advise how many times Devon and Cornwall Police, in specific exercise of their powers under the paragraphs 83 to 85 of Part 4 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, have:-
a) Asked persons involved in an Unauthorised Encampment to leave the area of that encampment (multiple persons asked to move on from the same encampment on the same occasion should be counted a one time for the purpose of the reply);
- b) How many arrests have been made as a result of persons failing to move on in response to a request to vacate the area of the encampment;
- c) How many vehicles have been seized from persons failing to move on from an encampment when asked to do so;
- d) How much revenue has been raised from the sale/disposal of vehicles seized under the above mentioned legislation;
e) How many such seized vehicles were subsequently returned to those from whom they were seized;
f) How many arrests under the above legislation resulted in actual charges being brought against those so arrested; - g) How many of the cases where charges were brought led to convictions;
h) How many such convictions resulted solely in a fine being imposed;
i) How many such convictions resulted in a custodial sentence being imposed.
The Performance & Analysis Department and the Alliance Roads Policing Department have provided the following information:
Searches were completed for the following offence descriptions:
- Fail to comply with request to leave land / remove vehicle from land - CJ94041
- Without consent of occupier enter / re-enter land with vehicle - CJ94042
These searches resulted in a nil return for question A; therefore, the rest of the request is not applicable.
Please note that the Force does not hold recorded information regarding convictions or sentencing. This information will be held by His Majesty’s Courts & Tribunal Service.