Councillor calls for prosecution of criminal travellers

The article headed Councillor calls for prosecution of criminal travellers featuers on social media sites in Southport. The article subsequently attracted appalling posts about travelers one of which on Southport GB stated ' these people are simply vagrants who leave a trail of filth behind them. They dont obey any laws and they certainly dont add anything to society, They dont pay tax they are just scumbags'

Labour Councillor Robert Brennan who sits on the Gypsy & Traveller steering group at Sefton Council has submitted a complaint to Merseyside Police hate crime unit over the post and has challenged Cllr Dawson to to unequivocally condemn the appalling post or allow this last bastion of acceptable racism to flourish unchallenged.

Cllr Brennan enquired whether the comunity spirited neighbours who alerted Cllr Dawson of the alleged break in, reported  the matter to Police and whether Cllr Dawson himself reported the alegation.

West Birkdale Councillor Lib Dem Tony Dawson says: "Neighbours informed me that 'travellers who got onto the site did so by cutting a padlock and chain using bolt cutters. They were seen doing this in broad daylight. I would have thought that this was straight forward criminal damage. Surely,everyone who went onto that site imediately afterwards had 'common purpose' which i think might mean they can all be tried for the offence? "there is public interest in ensuring that travellers generally do not hop from one place to another when they are moved on or threatened with proceedings"  bearing in mind that any such moving-on tends to involve padlocks or bolards mysteriously being destoyed. I would hope it would be possible for the council and the police to follow travellers who have been evicted until they are sure they have definetly left the area"

" - See more at: http://www.southport.gb.com/southport/news_list/Councillor_calls_for_prosecution_of_%27criminal%27_travellers-55013176.htm#sthash.kik0PqVb.dpufd allegations that travellers broke into a  site.

Councilor Brennan has further asked Cllr Dawson to explain his comment that 'moving on travellers tends to 'involve padlocks or bolards mysteriously being destroyed'