THE Government is to review laws on illegal traveller sites – a move welcomed by Rochford and Southend East Tory MP James Duddridge and Southend West MP Sir David Amess.

Communities Minister Alok Sharma announced a review of the effectiveness of laws designed to tackle illegal encampments set up by travellers.

The review will also look at whether current planning legislation is being properly enforced against unauthorised developments like the notorious Dale Farm in Basildon and more recently, Hovefields in Wickford, where it is feared another camp is being built.

Mr Sharma told MPs everyone aspired to “peaceful and integrated communities” but people must be treated equally under the law.

In a debate, Mr Duddridge called for a “three strikes and out rule”.

Yesterday he said: “These land invasions have caused my constituents significant distress, as each leaves behind enormous amounts of waste and the cleaning comes at a considerable cost to the law-abiding taxpayers. If travellers park illegally on land more than three times we should have law that allows police to take their vehicles and sell them to fund the clear up. We must get tougher on those who systematically break the law.

“We should also look at criminalising this type of activity. Rarely has so much damage been done by so few, creating such enormous resentment across the two communities – the settled and the travelling communities.”

Sir David added: “It is disgraceful that certain people turn up in public places, set up camp and when they are eventually removed leave a trail of destruction in their wake. This has got to stop and I welcome the fact that the Government is reviewing the present laws.”