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An MP has complained to the top cop of Nottinghamshire Police about how the force handled a large group of travellers who pitched up in the town.

Anna Soubry, Conservative MP for Broxtowe, wrote to Chief Constable Craig Guildford, saying she was concerned at reports that officers "sat and watched" as a group of up to 30 caravans drove onto Ilkeston Road Recreation Ground.

And in the heated letter she claimed residents were left feeling 'abandoned' after reporting anti-social behaviour to the force.

"One resident I spoke to said he called the police after midnight to complain about the noise coming from the site," she wrote on Friday (August 10).

"He was told the police could do 'nothing' even though it was accepted that if he was having a loud party after midnight and his neighbours complained, there was every chance the police would pay him a visit.

"I am bound to say our local police appear to have taken the view the illegal occupation of the park is not their problem and there is nothing they can do - safe in the knowledge the Borough Council will pursue the eviction and the 'problem' will be gone by the end of the week."

(Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)

The travellers eventually moved off the land on Friday after Broxtowe Borough Council, the landowner, obtained a court order requiring them to leave.

Legally the responsibility of evicting trespassers lies with the site owner, which Ms Soubry said was a process which takes too long.

Police do have powers to evict travellers in certain circumstances. But Ms Soubry has demanded to know exactly what the force's policy is when it comes to dealing with travellers.

She told Nottinghamshire Live: "It can mean people can be evicted literally within 24 hours.

"We need to know what's the policy of Nottinghamshire Police - do they never get involved or sometimes get involved?

"What I really want to know is are the police doing everything they can to get travellers off the land which they should not be on?"

(Image: Richard MacRae)

In her letter, she wrote she would 'welcome' Mr Guildford's thoughts on whether the laws need improving.

Richard MacRae, independent councillor for Stapleford North at Broxtowe Borough Council, said police let residents down.

He highlighted an example last week at the other end of the A52 Brian Clough Way, in Derby, where Derbyshire Constabulary used the designated powers under Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to evict travellers.

They left the recreation ground in Chaddesden shortly afterwards.

Councillor MacRae said: "When I say the police, I don't mean local officers - our local police do a cracking job and I've got nothing but respect for them. But they can only do what they're told to do.

"My argument's with those higher up. I think they've let the residents down.

"Travellers turned up in another area with the same issue... and the police used local powers to move them on the day after.

"The law's the law - and it's the same all over the country within reason - but if police can use laws in another area and shift them really quickly then I can't understand why the police let us down on this occasion."

Superintendent Ian Roberts, of Nottinghamshire Police, said high-visibility patrols were carried out in the area and there was regular liaison with partner agencies including Broxtowe Borough Council.

"We take all reports of crime and antisocial behaviour seriously and each case is dealt with on its own merits according to threat, risk and harm," he said.

"When illegal encampments are set up they are dealt with through local policy and we work alongside partners to ensure that policy can be enacted as expeditiously as possible.

"In some cases we do have powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act to direct people to leave an unlawful encampment but we have to use this fairly and proportionately, and with consideration of actions that are already being taken to remove them.

"However, we are due to meet with Anna Soubry MP and colleagues from the local council to discuss our collective partnership response and we will look at whether there are any learning points from that."