How to report unauthorised encampments

The County Council works with district and borough councils and Sussex Police to deal with unauthorised encampments.

Our response needs to balance the rights and needs of both the settled and travelling communities. For more information, please read:

Who deals with unauthorised encampments

All decisions about eviction (or toleration) are made by the relevant landowner.
Appropriate disposal of waste on site is managed by the relevant district or borough council.
The County Council meets educational and social care needs on site.
Chemical toilets may, or may not, be provided at the landowner's discretion.
All matters of criminality are investigated by the Sussex Police.

For questions about providing sites and how to deal with unauthorised camping, please call the East Sussex Traveller Liaison Manager.

To report unauthorised encampments, please contact the relevant district or borough council:

Health and Environment Services
Town Hall
Grove Road
Eastbourne BN21 4UG
Phone: 01323 410000

Environmental Services
Town Hall
Queens Road
Hastings TN34 1QR
Phone: 0845 274 1066

Environmental Health
32 High Street
Lewes BN7 2LX
Phone: 01273 471600

Environmental Health
Town Hall
Bexhill-on-Sea TN39 3JX
Phone: 01424 787878

Unauthorised encampments in Wealden are dealt with by the East Sussex Traveller Liaison Manager.

The police and local authorities have powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to enforce the removal of unauthorised encampments.

Trespassers who fail to comply may face:

If vehicles are removed from the land the owner may be charged with the removal costs and storing or disposing of them.

Evictions can also be undertaken by a local authority obtaining a Court Possession Order.