8.Details of the purpose of each Article contained in the Order are set out below. Comments are not given where the wording is self-explanatory.
This Article sets out the title of the Order and provides that Articles 1 and 2 are to come into operation 7 days after the Order is made. The Department is empowered to make a commencement order naming the day on which the remaining provisions will come into operation.
This Article applies the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 to the Order and defines certain expressions used in it.
Paragraphs (1) and (2) set out the conditions that the most senior police officer at the scene must reasonably believe are satisfied before issuing a direction to a person to leave and remove any vehicle or other property with him on the land. The conditions are:
at least two persons must be trespassing or, although not originally, are now trespassing, on land with the intention of residing there;
the occupier of the land has asked them to leave;
any person trespassing on the land has behaved in a manner outlined in paragraph (1)(a) or the persons trespassing have six or more vehicles on the land.
Paragraphs (4) and (5) provide that a person commits an offence for which he may be arrested if he fails to comply with a direction under paragraph (1) or if, within 3 months of the direction given, he returns to the land as a trespasser. The maximum penalty is 3 months imprisonment or a level 4 fine (or both).
Paragraph (6) provides for defences which can be mounted in court proceedings for an offence under this Article.
This Article enables a constable to seize and remove any vehicle if he suspects that a person has, without reasonable excuse, failed to comply with a direction under Article 3 (1) to remove it, or if within 3 months of the direction he trespasses again on the land with a vehicle.
Paragraph (1) creates a power for the most senior police officer at the scene to direct a person to leave land and remove any vehicle or other property with him on that land.
Paragraph (2) sets out the conditions that the police officer must believe are satisfied before he can give a direction. These are:
at least two persons must be trespassing on land;
they must have at least one vehicle on the land;
they must be present on the land with the intent of residing there;
where they have caravans there are relevant caravan sites with suitable pitches available for them to move to;
the occupier of the land has asked the police to remove the trespassers.
Paragraphs (4) and (5) create a duty for the police officer to consult various bodies as to whether a suitable pitch exists where a direction to move is given to trespassers who have a caravan.
Paragraphs (1) to (4) create an offence, for which a person may be arrested, if he fails to comply with a direction under Article 5(1) to leave land, or within 3 months, trespasses on any land in the district council area with the intention of residing there. The maximum penalty is 3 months imprisonment or a level 4 fine, or both.
Paragraph (5) provides for defences which can be mounted in court proceedings for an offence under Article 6.
This Article enables a constable to seize and remove any vehicle if he suspects that a person has, without reasonable excuse, failed to comply with a direction under Article 5(1), or within 3 months enters any land in the district council area as a trespasser with a vehicle.
This Article defines certain expressions used in Articles 5 to 7 of the Order.
This Article enables the Department to make regulations for the retention, safekeeping, disposal and destruction of vehicles seized and removed from land and for the recovery of costs.