NEW laws surrounding illegal traveller encampments “would have wholeheartedly helped” bailiffs and police at Dale Farm.

Tony Ball, the former leader of Basildon Council, told the Echo that Government plans to give police more powers in removing illegal traveller sites, would have “significantly reduced” the stand off at Dale Farm.

As part of new plans and laws, police will have the power to prosecute travellers if they return to a specific site within 12 months.

Under current rules, travellers can return to a site just three months after they are removed without facing prosecution.

The plans will also see police able to act sooner as the threshold for intervention will be dropped from six illegally parked caravans to two.

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Mr Ball, now a county councillor, said: “The laws that are coming into force would have been helpful. 

“At the time, an enforcement notice could be negated with a planning application, but this is no longer the case, it’s either one or the other.”

But Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, urged the Government to bring forward the so-called Irish Option.

The Irish Option will give police immediate power to remove any illegal encampment.

He welcomed the news nevertheless.

While Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West, who has criticised a lack of action to deal with travellers previously, also welcomed the new plans.

Kerry Smith, deputy leader of Basildon Council, said the Irish Option “is the only option.”

The Irish Option, which has been demanded in south Essex for years, will also make the act of trespassing a criminal offence. South Essex MPs Stephen Metcalfe and John Baron have also called for the Irish Option.