MORE than 100 traveller caravans were pitched in Maldon this summer – and a dozen were on unauthorised sites, figures show.

A charity has warned new legislation could threaten the nomadic traditions of Gypsies and traveller communities by criminalising unauthorised encampments.

The Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) charity has called the proposed measures "draconian".

Currently passing through Parliament, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill would see police given greater powers to tackle such encampments, including the right to seize vehicles and impose heavy fines on those trespassing "with intent to reside".

In July, there were spaces for 52 caravans at local authority and privately owned sites in Maldon, according to the Government's latest traveller caravan count.

Data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities shows there were 117 traveller caravans in the area in July.

This is up from 87 in July 2019 when the last summer count took place.

Of those counted this year, 12 were on unauthorised pitches.

The number of caravans parked up on other unapproved sites has dropped by a third nationally since the last summer count was conducted in July 2019.

But the FFT says it gives no indication of the number of people waiting for approved pitches.

The charity estimates hundreds of people could be waiting for a space across England, while the figures show just two new socially rented pitches were created nationally between July 2019 and July 2021.

A Government spokesman said it welcomed the reduction in unauthorised sites and had provided funding to councils to build traveller sites in an effort to ensure Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are supported.