Evictions | Travellers and Trespassers


Gypsy Traveller & Trespassers Evictions

Our Certificated Bailiffs (Enforcement Agents) will attend your property, serve legal notice and remove the illegal occupants and vehicles to get your property back.

CALL : 0330 133 1818

Evictions


Welcome to UK Bailiffs, your premier solution for managing unauthorised encampments on your property.


If you're a landowner dealing with the challenges posed by unlawful travellers, trespassers, or rough sleepers, our expert services are designed to restore your peace of mind and control over your land.


We specialise in the legal and efficient removal of these individuals from both private and commercial properties across England and Wales.


Our approach is rooted in the robust framework of Common Law, ensuring that our actions are lawful and effective.



Our team at UK Bailiffs understands the urgency and sensitivity required when addressing the presence of unauthorised occupants on your land.

 

With over 15 years of experience in this field, we provide comprehensive support that includes initial risk assessments, negotiation, and if necessary, the physical removal of trespassers using no more force than is reasonably necessary.
 

We pride ourselves on our high success rate and our commitment to ensuring that the process is dealt with professionally and efficiently.


Let us take the burden off your shoulders, allowing you to regain control of your property with confidence and legality on your side.



Procedures and Protocols

UK Bailiffs offers a clear and compliant approach to removing unauthorized encampments. Our team acts swiftly and professionally while ensuring full legal compliance and minimal disruption.

Step-by-Step Eviction Process

1. Initial Consultation
Speak to our team for clear guidance, estimated costs, and answers to your questions.

2. Documentation Preparation
Complete our simple online form. Legal documents are auto-generated and served directly to trespassers.

3. Agent Deployment
Certified Enforcement Agents are dispatched—often within 2 hours of instruction.

4. Notice Serving & Engagement
On-site, agents serve formal notice, conduct a risk assessment, and engage with the encampment to understand the situation.

5. Strategy Discussion & Action
Based on the situation, we propose and implement the most appropriate strategy:

  • Peaceful Eviction: Set a reasonable deadline for voluntary departure.
  • Extended Deadline: Offer more time if cooperation is shown.
  • Escalation: Deploy additional agents, K9 units, or recovery trucks if needed.
  • Full Removal: Complete site clearance as a last resort.

6. Eviction Execution
We act on the agreed plan, ensuring all actions are legal, professional, and cause minimal disruption to your property.

UK Bailiffs EA

Eviction Options:


Every eviction is different and we offer a proactive bespoke approach. These are the most common options available;


  • Option 1: Serve Only: Our agents will serve the legal notice urging immediate vacating, including a risk assessment. This option is straightforward and focuses on immediate action without further involvement unless escalated.
  • Option 2: Serve and Observe: After serving the notice, our team will stay on-site, encouraging compliance, and ensuring minimal damage or disruption to your land. This includes ongoing monitoring and risk assessment.
  • Option 3: Serve and Return: Serve notice today, with the option to return the next day for eviction if the trespassers have not vacated as required.
  • Option 4: Same Day Eviction: Immediate action where we serve the notice and proceed with eviction on the same day, ensuring a prompt resolution.



The Law Relating to Evictions

Landowners in England and Wales — whether private or local authority — have the right to remove trespassers from land via either Common Law or the Court process.

Halsbury’s Laws of England

In 1907, Stanley Bond, publisher of Butterworths Law Journal, commissioned former Lord Chancellor Hardinge Giffard, the First Earl of Halsbury, to produce an authoritative legal reference: Halsbury’s Laws of England.

“If a trespasser peaceably enters or is on land, the person who is in or entitled to possession may request him to leave, and if he refuses to leave, remove him from the land using no more force than is reasonably necessary.”

This principle still applies today.

The Role of Enforcement Agents

Enforcement Agents(formerly bailiffs) may lawfully attend land without notice and request trespassers to vacate. If refused, they may evict them immediately — without a court order — using only reasonable force.

Important Exception: If peaceful access cannot be gained (e.g., needing to cut locks or force entry), the Agent cannot proceed with eviction under Common Law.

The standard procedure is:

  • Agents attend the site and serve notice.
  • A risk assessment is conducted.
  • Reasonable time is given for the trespassers to leave.
  • If they fail to do so, vehicles and persons may be removed using minimal force.

Reasonable Notice & Force

The term "reasonable" is open to interpretation:

  • A landowner might consider "reasonable notice" to mean immediate removal.
  • A travelling family might view it as time to find a suitable alternative location.

The standard is judged by a third party with relevant expertise, considering the situation's specifics. Enforcement Agents assess:

  • The landowner's needs
  • Health and safety concerns
  • Welfare of the occupiers

Examples:

  • Would it be reasonable to remove travellers at 11pm with sleeping children?
  • What if they’re visibly preparing to leave and just need an hour?

Reasonable force also lacks a strict definition — courts assess whether the force used was proportionate.

As guidance, most Agents allow:

  • Minimum: 2 hours to vacate
  • Typical: Up to 24 hours, if no property damage or disruption occurs

The Benefits of Common Law Eviction

Speed and impact: Agents can attend immediately after instruction. No court order or extended notice is required, making the process faster and often more cost-effective.

The Downsides

There’s no legal recourse if the travellers return the next day. However, this rarely occurs — swift, decisive action usually prevents repeat trespass.

Other Considerations

On land owned by local authorities, the Human Rights Act must be taken into account. Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights protects a person’s right to a private and family life.

Where children are involved, liaison with social services may be required to ensure proper welfare, care, and access to services.


Traveller and Trespasser Success Rate (2023-2024)

Below is the total success rate for October 2023 - October 2024 based on 97 evictions

65%

Vacated on Service 

(24 hours)

33%

Evicted following

Reattendance (48 hours)

1%

Evicted After 48 hours

99%

Total Success Rate


(Based on Travellers not leaving prior to Enforcement Agents being stood down)


Traveller Eviction FAQs

Got a question? We’re here to help.
  • Do I need a Court Order to remove Travellers?

    Under most circumstances you do not need a Court Order to evict trespassers from your land. .


    Under Halsburys Laws of England (Paragraph 1400) it states that ‘ If a trespasser peaceably enters land, the person who is entitled to possession may request him to leave; and if he refuses to leave may remove him from the land using no more force than is reasonably necessary’.



    There are some circumstances when a Court order may be required such as they have secured premises internally, but we'll be able to advise you on that 

  • Can I just pay the travellers to leave?

    As part of our anti-bribery and corruption policy, (see here) we  are unable to pay travellers or  trespassers to vacate and are unable to support a client who wants to do this.


    We would strongly recommend you do not pay illegal trespassers to leave as you are likely to see an increase in traveller activity at your site due to you being seen as a 'cash-cow' or easy target.


  • Can I remove the travellers myself ?

    As described above, you have a legal right to remove them yourself. However, as a landowner you are legally responsible for the welfare of any one occupying your land (legaly or not).


    We are trained and highly experienced in this. We are fully insured, experts in risk assessments, video enabled and trained negotiators.

  • Do you guarantee your services?

    No. But our likelihood of success is high. Over 15 years doing Traveller Evictions we estimate 97% are successfully concluded.


    Police, health and safety and welfare, and occasionally the instructing client are mainly responsible for the 3%

  • So, you just turn up and start removing everyone?

    No.  Most people from the travelling community are reasonable people and the majority are not criminally minded.


    We serve notice that they must leave immediately (or as agreed with you)


    We then give them reasonable time to vacate. Usually this is up to 2 hours.


    During this time, we monitor behaviour and ensure they are preparing to move.


    If they are being reasonable, we may negotiate extra time, however if they are non-compliant or refusing to leave then we will look at escalating the situation.

  • Do you carry out risk assessments?

    In line with the Health and Safety at Work 1999 legislation, you have a legal duty to assess risks and to protect the safety of everyone involved in the eviction process.


    We carry out a Generic risk assessment on first attendance and will then relay our recommendation back to you.  We will provide you immediately with our Agents report.  Throughout the eviction process, we will constantly reassess the eviction and modify our actions to manage any risks.

  • Are You Insured ?

    We hold Public liability, Public Indemnity and Employees Liability Insurance?



    Copies of which can be requested through our recovery manager

  • Do you provide security/clean up services

    Yes. We can provide security for the site (static / mobile or dog patrols) to ensure your land is secure overnight and we can arrange for contractors to attend to clean up the site if required. Just ask when you phone or request it on the on-line form

  • What do you charge?

    Prices start at £350 plus VAT

  • Why should we use you ?

    We only ever use Certificated Enforcement Agents to carry out evictions, a lot of companies now, unfortunately use un-trained security personnel.



    All of our agents are ; 


    self employed, 

    carry body worn CCTV equipment, 

    have a minimum 2 years experience in the industry,

    are trained negotiators

    have on-street and/or classroom training

    have successfully carried out evictions.

    Are regularly DBS and financially checked.

    We pay our Agents well above the national average meaning they want to keep working for us which motivates them to do the best job possible for you.



    We carry Public Liability, Indemnity and Employees Liability insurance to a minimum of £10 million in addition all Agents carry a personal bond of £10,000

  • Are there other options available to us?

    Yes. Below is a list of all current lawful methods for removing trespassers 



    Common law powers (This method)



    • can only be used by the landowner 


    • are used to regain possession of land; 


    • does not require the involvement of the courts; 


    • enforced by the landowner and Enforcement Agents where necessary; 


    • does not provide any sanctions offence for the return of trespassers onto land



    Part 55 Civil Procedures Rules 



    • can only be used by the landowner; 


    • is used to regain possession of land; 


    • requires attendance in Court; 


    • possession is enforced by county court bailiffs, where necessary; 


    • does not provide any sanctions for the return of trespassers onto land.



     


    Sections 77-78 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 



    • can only be used by a local authority; 


    • can be used on any land within the local authority’s area, irrespective of ownership; 


    • is used to remove identified individuals from land; 


    • only require the involvement of the courts when unauthorised campers do not leave when directed to do so; 


    • possession is enforced by local authority officers or Enforcement Agents employed by the local authority; 


    • the return of unauthorised campers and/or their vehicles to the location within three months carries criminal sanctions.



     


    Sections 61-62 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994



    • can only be used by the police; 


    • can be used on any land except the highway; 


    • is used to remove identified individuals and/or their vehicles from land; 


    • there must be two or more persons trespassing on the land before the power can be used; 


    • do not require the involvement of the courts;


    • possession is enforced by the police; 


    • the return of unauthorised travellers/ trespassers  to the location within three months carries criminal sanctions.




    Section 62A-E Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 



    • can only be used where an alternative site is available; 


    • can only be used by the police; 


    • can be used on any land; 


    • is used to remove identified individuals and/or their vehicles from the land; 


    • does not require the involvement of the courts; • possession is enforced by the police; 


    • the return of unauthorised travellers / trespassers to the local authority area within three months carries criminal sanctions.




    Government Guidance on Travellers 

  • I have more questions

    No Problem.  


    You can phone us on 0330 133 1818

    or email by clicking HERE


    If you would like us to call you back, click HERE


    For more information on legislation, you can go to our news page HERE


INSTRUCTION FORM


Completing the form does not constitute a contract or acceptance of the instruction.

Once submitted, we will email you a copy of the Warrant for acceptance and then we will begin the process. We may also request further details as part of our due diligence procedures. If you have any questions in relation to the instructions, please email us HERE or phone 03301331818



Contact A Recovery Specialist

UK Bailiffs Evictions