Sections 62A-E of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 enable the police to move on Gypsies and Travellers trespassing on any land where a suitable pitch is available on a publicly owned site in the area.
Under section 15(4) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act, the Secretary of State may direct a local planning authority to amend its Local Development Scheme to include a Development Plan Document for the allocation of Gypsy and Traveller sites and the timetable within such a plan must be prepared.
District and unitary councils are required to undertake accommodation needs assessments for Gypsies and Travellers in their areas, and to identify land in their Development Plan Documents to deliver the pitch numbers allocated to them by the Regional Assembly in the Regional Spatial Strategy. However, sites may be provided by any type of local authority, registered social landlords or private organisations and individuals.