A FORMER police chief has blasted the force’s lack of action on a huge traveller camp.

A group of about 50 travellers parked on Hove Lawns driving a large number of large motorhomes onto the grass on Saturday.

But retired detective chief superintendent Kevin Moore said he was “incandescent with rage” after learning that Sussex Police said they could do nothing about the camp.

The travellers remain at the site now.

But Mr Moore said that there is legislation in place to order the camp to be moved.

He said: “It’s one of the most important parts of the city and it is being defaced.

“They are sticking two fingers up at the law and a strong approach needs to be taken by police to move them on.

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“There are a lot of things I do to support the police and I understand there are budget cuts and they are short staffed.

“But I cant defend this lack of action, it’s indefensible.”

Mr Moore said there were many occasions during his time with the force in which he had faced similar situations.

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He said: “When I was a senior police officer I did many of these orders.

“You give reasonable notice of 24 hours and if it has not been moved then you move them on.

“Sometimes we had to bring towing vehicles, but I never had to use them.

“You only have to give a show of strength, it’s that simple.

“But if you just stand off it sends a message that you can park where you want.

“The council are the land owners so they need to tell the individuals they want them to leave and then police should act alongside them.”

Mr Moore said the situation was a show of “weak policing”.

He said: “I was prepared to incur the wrath of traveller groups to do my duty.

“Some people would criticise me but it didn’t bother me because I was doing my job.

“What’s the point of having the legislation in place to be able to move them if you don’t use it.

“It was created to deal with this.

“It’s what I used to call strong policing and I’m sorry to say we don’t see anywhere near enough of it these days.

“I think the public are crying out for strong policing, not just in this but in many areas, but we are just not getting it.

“We keep seeing excuse after excuse.”

The area is meant to be part of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).

This means anyone occupying any vehicle, caravan, tent or other structure and is approached by an official must remove it within 12 hours.

There are also powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act for the police to take action.

It means the police can tell trespassers, travellers or gypsies to leave land if reasonable steps have been taken by, or on behalf of, a landowner to ask them to leave.

It also requires that two or more persons are trespassing on the land with the common purpose of residing there.

If so, police must consider if those people are causing damage to the land or property, or using threatening behaviour towards the landowner, a family member, or a representative, or if those people have six or more vehicles on the land.

But Sussex Police said: “Police and the city council have attended Hove Lawns after around 50 travellers arrived there on Saturday afternoon.

“The council has formally requested them to leave.

“As yet, they have not.

“At this time, criteria to use our police powers has not been met, but this is being constantly assessed.”