Travellers to be evicted from Brighton’s Preston Park

Travellers are set to be evicted from Brighton’s Preston Park later today (Friday May 30) thanks to special police powers.

An unauthorised encampment has remained in part of the popular park for days despite thousands heading to the open space for the half-term week.

A further 30 vehicles joined them yesterday after being evicted from Brighton’s Stanmer Park.

After visiting the Preston Park site with Sussex Police officers, Brighton and Hove City Council said it would be evicting the group today.

Speaking yesterday, a council spokesman said: “We visited this site with the police this morning.

“We have asked the police to use their Section 61 powers to direct this group to leave the park.

“This request has been agreed, and the police will be serving papers later today and enforcing tomorrow.”

Section 61 powers give police officers special powers to remove groups trespassers from land if they have an intent to remain there.

Police locally have received criticism in the past for not using the order more often.

But officers said it needed to balance the need of the local community against the cost of monitoring situations and carrying our evictions.