These findings were first published, in a different format, in Housing magazine (Campbell, 1998, p 13).

This is a preliminary analysis and report prepared from a Telephone Legal Advice Service for Travellers (TLAST, part of the Traveller Law Research Unit at Cardiff Law School 1995-98) survey and research during 1998 on the financial cost of unauthorised encampments borne by local authorities. Last June TLAST contacted all metropolitan borough councils (MBCs), London borough councils (LBCs), new unitary authorities (UAs) and county councils (CCs) in England and Wales to seek their participation in the research. So far 78 responses have been received – a 55% response rate. District councils (DCs) have not been included in the survey at this stage.

Never before has such a nationwide survey been conducted; this is surprising, because as long ago as 1976 the Cripps Report (Accommodation for Gypsies) highlighted the vast amount of time and money spent on evictions and preventative measures to deter further encampments. Sir John Cripps cited one MBC as having spent £18,000 (in 1975-76 prices) and concluded that the provision of sites would result in savings for local authorities.

A recent report of the Local Government Association's planning committee puts the attempted eviction costs at Crowborough at £170,000 and notes that £100,000 was spent by Doncaster in similar eviction action. Todd and Clark (1991) in Good practice guidelines for Gypsy site provision by local authorities, quoted one LBC as having spent £120,000 on site protection and clearing rubbish alone. A report to the housing committee of Canterbury City Council on 21 October 1992 states that £24,138 was spent on 38 cases, although £6,400 of this sum was recovered from private landowners after the council took action on their behalf. One city council informed the DoE that it spent £71,000 in 1990 on evictions from illegal transit camps (Parliamentary Debates [Hansard], 10 February 1994).

What is clear from the preliminary analysis of the survey responses is that only one local authority appears to have calculated the total cost, while the remaining authorities have excluded one or more items from their calculations. Typically, the sort of costs councils are likely to incur are legal costs including court fees and attendance, counsels’ fees, costs for solicitors’ time, bailiffs’ fees and hire of removal vehicles where necessary.