Access to Alloment / Legal Rights

[ysb33r]

Our allotments are owned by the town council and as such is designated to be private property. There are no public right of way or similar servitutes that apply.

Does this therefore mean that anyone found on the allotments who is not a 'lottie owner (or in the company of one) trespasses?

Does this allow me to chase them off?
Should I phone the police in such circumstances?

My reason for asking is that we have a couple of youths causing trouble in the vicinity. With the summer holidays just two weeks away, problems are bound to increase.

[greenlung]

Commiserations - I wouldn't go chasing though. Just try to stay cool and ask them to leave. I doubt the police would be interested until it's too late, though it might be worth a call to forewarn them. Won't your council help ? How about good fences & locked gates ? We had a lot of trouble at our allotment - burnt sheds, stolen veggies - until we got a tall, spikey double fence.

[Digger-07]

We have local community police who are only too happy to know of "neighbourhood" problems because they can prevent anything from getting out of hand. In the past I have seen them at various times speaking to groups of young people hanging arround the local church, the back of Matalan and in other places.

I think they are trying to bring back the local boby feel to the community. Perhaps if you call the police station they might be able to give you some advice, we all have the mobile phone number of the com. beat officer who will always attend any problem. Just seeing them about taking an interest is often enough to keep trouble away.

[bubblewrap]

Don't realy know but I would thought it would be the same as you renting a house off the council you have every right to "ask" people to leave.
If they don't leave they are trespassing trouble is would the police be interested unless damage was being caused?

[carlseawolf]

take there picture ( most proberly illegal ) and then you can show the police , or better still sign post all trespassers will be photoed and passed on to police .
if damage is then done you allready have a list of possible mugshots for the police to work from, or a deterant for possible trouble makers.

[Peter]

Trespass is a civil offence and it is down to the landowner to prosecute.
Signs warning that it is private property are required.
A good fence while helpful is not armour, I have put up chainlink, but it can be un-picked or cut.
The "railway" style of spike topped metal picket fence six foot high is best but expensive and bars can still be levered apart, or things used to get over it.

As for photographs, well ensure you have a zoom lens and take pictures of your plot, if some idiot is hanging around where they shouldn't be and you accidentaly press the telephoto button , well accidents do happen.

[Nicos]

Hmmm...I just wonder that if you say something to them, then they may take note of which is your plot and do something whilst you're not there,
I suppose it is a good thing that they are out enjoying the 'countryside' as opposed to hanging round the shops? It's a pity we automatically assume the worse
A discrete photo may come in handy, but wouldn't be proof if any damage were to occur.
We had 3 years of gypsy damage - you have my sympathy.

[nick the grief]

If they have a fone in their hand you could always tell the police you think they have a gun ..... I bet they come then !!

[wormlady]

Hiya
I have the same problem on my plot - the scallies are forever breaking in when Im down there - normally they scuttle off when I shout but it can be a bit scary if Im down there on my own. I try not to be the last one down there these days which really hacks me off as I ought to be able to enjoy the long summer nights without fearing scally-attacks.
Ive pestered and pestered the council to fix the gaping hole in the fence but they are flippin useless!
If you get any advice about what our rights are and what the police are willing to do, please share with us.

[greenlung]

Just to clear up the photo thing - It's NOT ILLEGAL to take photos of people if they're tresspassing on private land, or in a public place for that matter. It ain't a police state - yet.