The Criminal Trespass Bill

Dear all,

BREAKING NEWS: thanks to you, MPs will hold a debate in Parliament on 25th January into Government plans to criminalise trespass!

Parliament's Petitions Committee has just scheduled the debate, after our petition - 'Don't criminalise trespass' - got over 134,000 signatures, back in early September. Massive thanks to all of you who signed and promoted the petition!

But now we really need your help to contact MPs and get them to say the right things at the debate.

We've written a template email, below, which you can adapt and send to your MP. When MPs hear about issues from their constituents, they're so much more likely to take action - and even if they disagree with you, they have to take your views into consideration.

You can look up your MP and their email address on the Parliament website here. Remember to include your postcode when you send your email, to show you're a constituent, otherwise they won't have to respond.

If you get any reply from your MP, we'd be really keen to hear what they have to say - the arguments they're using, whether they agree with us or not - so please forward their correspondence if you can.

Thanks again for all your help - and hope you have a safe and peaceful Xmas break.

Best wishes
Guy (Shrubsole) and Nick (Hayes)x

From my MP

Dear Alison Fure

Thank you for contacting me about this important issue

Unfortunately, due to conflicts in my schedule, I am unable to attend the debate on 25th January.

Please be assured, I am opposed to trespassing becoming a criminal offence, rather than the civil offence it is currently classed as.

My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I believe its classification as a criminal offence could lead to the criminalisation of the existence of traveller communities who are already facing incredibly high levels of inequality and discrimination in our society.

I also do not wish to curtail the right to roam as the civil offence of trespass can still be pursued through the courts if need be - there is no need to invoke stronger penalties.

This coronavirus pandemic has shown the absolute necessity of access to nature for everyone across the UK for both wellbeing and health reasons. The Liberal Democrats are hoping this shift will make it easier for us to improve the Environment Bill when it next returns to Parliament.

The Liberal Democrats strongly support a significant increase to the amount of accessible green space, including:

Protecting up to a million acres.

Completing the coastal path.

Exploring a ‘right to roam’ for waterways.

Creating a new designation of National Nature Parks.

I will continue to hold the Government to account on this issue. Please do let me know if there is anything further I can do to help.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this important matter.

With best wishes,

Ed Davey

Rt Hon Sir Edward Davey MP

Kingston & Surbiton (Liberal Democrats)

House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA | 020 7219 4530

21 Berrylands Road, Surbiton KT5 8QX | 020 8288 2736

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