Managing unauthorised encampments (including Gypsy and Traveller sites)
An unauthorised encampment is when a group of people move on to a piece of land that they do not own and without consent from the landowner. This is a form of trespassing under civil law.
The council has an authorised, fixed site with residential pitches for travellers at Kanes Hill, Botley Road.
If you have seen an unauthorised site, check below to see if it is one we already know about.
Current reports
Unauthorised encampment reported at Riverside Park
Update at 4pm on 22 August 2025: Southampton City Council’s Community Safety team have completed the required statutory welfare checks and Hampshire Police are in the process of issuing a Section 61 Notice to the encampment for them to leave Riverside Park.
Reporting an encampment
You can report an encampment using our online form:
Before you fill in this form
You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself up to five minutes to fill in the form.
We will need to know:
Date and time you first noticed the campsite
Number of caravans or vehicles on the site
Extra details about the location
For more information, you can read our full policy on managing unauthorised campsites.
