How to Stop Travellers Moving on Your Land

January 9, 2021 - Reading time: 6 minutes

One of the many challenges facing land owners in the UK is the ever present worry that travellers will pitch up onto their private land and setup camp. Travellers often bring multiple vehicles, trailers, children, and livestock with them onto private land, and as such, the potential for damage to be caused by these uninvited guests setting up camp on a parcel of private land is all too apparent.

As a leading detective and enforcement agency based in the UK, we are often tasked with serving notice on travellers and removing them from private land. Over the years we have learned what works, and what doesn’t work, when it comes to increasing security and trying to prevent unauthorized people (and their vehicles) from entering private land.

We have compiled the following tips which can help to increase security and stop gypsies or travellers from moving onto your private land in the first place.

Ditches and mounds

One of the most cost-effective methods for preventing unauthorised vehicles from entering private land is to dig deep ditches and build mounds of earth in strategic locations around the boundary. In some cases these ditches can also double up as drainage trenches. Large mounds of earth are also effective; though do bear in mind that if your dirt pile can be quickly moved by one or two men with shovels, then it may not remain in the same place for very long. It’s important to consider any liability issues which might arise from members of the public falling into steep ditches; while digging a ditch in itself is not illegal, excavating earth with the goal of creating a boobytrap most certainly is not. Ditches can help to fortify existing fences along your boundary and create an additional deterrent.

Physical barricades

Physical barricades can come in many different shapes and sizes – effectively any large, heavy object which is difficult to move can be used to block the entrance to your piece of land. Large boulders or concrete blocks are a popular choice, we have also seen shipping containers or large vehicles used to block gateways. The bigger and heavier an object is, the more effective it will be at preventing access.

Fencing and gates

Traditional British hedgerows are a popular choice for enclosing land; however, a hedgerow can easily be removed by one man with a chainsaw, or flattened using off-road vehicles. Digging a ditch along one side of your hedge, or placing boulders along the perimeter, can help to fortify hedgerows against these types of attacks.

High security fencing, such as metal palisade fencing, can be very effective at preventing trespassers from accessing land, though the costs can be prohibitive depending on the size of area that needs to be enclosed. Concrete or metal bollards, especially when used alongside ditches, are often a more cost-effective barrier to keep vehicles from accessing plots of land. For adequate security, bollards should be dug into the ground by at least 3 feet and be secured in place with plenty of concrete. If you are using metal pipe style bollards, then filling them with concrete can also help to increase their strength.

When it comes to choosing a gate for your land, the most secure option would be a heavy steel gate which cannot be easily rammed open by a vehicle. When it comes to security, we believe that you get what you pay for, and purchasing or fabricating a heavy-duty gate with high gauge steel and a solid locking mechanism has the potential to deter nuisances such as gypsies, fly-tippers, or poachers.

Whatever style of gate you choose, be sure to check that it cannot be simply lifted off its hinges and removed, this is a surprisingly common means to gain access to land without a key to the gate, and usually without causing any damage. Security hinges are designed to prevent this form of attack; however, if your gate has been hinged in such a way that it is vulnerable, lockable brackets can be purchased online which fix onto gate hinges in order to prevent the gate from being lifted up and removed.

Locks and locking mechanisms

The more money that is spent fortifying your land, the more money you might save by preventing antisocial or criminal activity, and purchasing an adequate lock is one aspect where it doesn’t pay to cut corners. High end padlocks are often made with boron-carbide shackles, for example, which means that they are virtually impossible to cut open with a traditional pair of bolt cutters. Many higher end locks are also drill resistant, and some even use technology such as inbuilt alarms.

We suggest using padlock protectors to prevent locks from being cut or tampered with. Padlock protectors cover the padlock’s shackle and make it harder to cut.

CCTV and security guards

If you own of a piece of land which is susceptible to problems such as traveller camps or fly tipping, then your goal should be to make your land less appealing and deter any such activity before it takes place. CCTV and lighting can provide good phycological deterrents, and if your land is protected by a locked gate, then CCTV images might be able to gather proof that the lock was damaged in order to gain access.

Modern technology relating to batteries and solar power has come a long way. Solar powered security lights and CCTV cameras mean that land can be protected even if it is off grid and not connected to mains power. There are many cost-effective systems now available online.

Protecting land by placing security guards at the entrance 24 hours per day will not be cost effective solution for most land owners. Security patrols and warning signage can have varying levels of effectiveness depending on the location and desirability of your land.

There is no such thing as 100% security; all security can be breached given enough time and effort. The goal is to create an effective deterrent and to make your land less appealing to gypsies or travellers than surrounding plots of land. If your land is more difficult to access, then the hope is that travellers will choose to setup camp at a different location instead.

Removing travellers from your land

If travellers or gypsies have already moved onto your private land, then the information contained in this article might not be much use until your land has been vacated. We can help to quickly evict travellers from most areas of the UK. We offer a fast and cost-efficient service. Learn more about gypsy/traveller evictions.