Van dwellers Police admit the Downs pose a 'complex, dynamic' challenge

THE Downs are too big for the council and police to be able to easily take legal action to remove groups of travellers and caravan and van dwellers, because court orders and injunctions taken out to move them on only mean they can move to another spot in the same area.

- Tristan CORK

That was the admission from a senior police chief in Bristol, in a letter to a resident who had complained about a long list of issues on the Downs over the past couple of months. The letter, which has been shared on social media, was from the Bristol Commander for Neighbourhood policing, Supt Stephanie McKenna.

Supt McKenna explained what had happened with a group of Travellers who were the subject of a council court order moving them on from a pitch on Clifton Down, near the site of the now-closed Bristol Zoo. The Travellers - a separate group from the large number of people living in vans and caravans further north on Durdham Down - simply moved on, to a spot close to the Sea Walls, much to the frustration of residents in the Protect The Downs campaign group.

Supt McKenna said it was a huge challenge to police the Downs, and the council struggled to take enforcement action.