I WRITE regarding Cllr Pat Oakley’s letter about the recent ‘Traveller’ incident in Bournemouth. I would like to raise two very short, but important points in response.
Firstly, the last paragraph of the letter, refers to the PCC sending out clear instructions to ‘his officers’ to enforce the law. I feel I need to point out that the Chief Constable, James Vaughan is responsible for operational policing in Dorset and not the Police & Crime Commissioner.
Secondly, it is acknowledged that since Dorset County Council created the transit site at Piddlehinton, issues revolving around travellers in the rural county have reduced enormously.
As Police and Crime Commissioner I have lobbied hard for law change and for the conurbation Local Authorities to identify a suitable transit site for each of their areas.
This issue won’t go away until both law change and a nominated site are found.
I remain hopeful that the new ‘Super Council’ will be able to resolve this seemingly never ending problem for the residents of Bournemouth and Poole.
Martyn Underhill Police & Crime Commissioner
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