Section 61 issued for unauthorised encampment in Eastleigh

Good morning to you all. We hope you're well. We just wanted to bring you an update on an unauthorised encampment which was set up earlier this week at Fleming Park, on the site of Places Leisure, Passfield Avenue.

Since we were first made aware of the encampment, officers in Eastleigh have been working with partners in order to seek a suitable resolution.

Under Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, police have the power to direct individuals to leave the land and remove any vehicles or property they have with them.

Failure to comply with this direction is a criminal offence. These powers can be considered in the following circumstances:

- Communities are deprived of local amenities; or significant impact on the environment

- There is local disruption to the economy

- There is other disruption to the local community or environment

- There is a danger to life where there is a need to take preventative action.

Following a review of the circumstances surrounding the encampment, police utilised these powers yesterday (Thursday 21 August) and the group has now left the site.

Eastleigh Neighbourhood Policing Team Inspector, Andy Mooge, said: “We will always ensure that we balance the needs and rights of all our communities with actions that are proportionate, lawful and necessary.

“We work closely with landowners, our partners and our communities to ensure that a robust approach is taken against unauthorised encampments within legal parameters.

“Our partnership work also seeks to identify repeat locations where there has been criminality or disorder in order to target harden these sites.”