Treating travellers who set up illegal encampments with “respect and sensitivity” is the best way to secure a drama-free departure, says the man responsible for tackling the long-running issue.

The city council’s community safety chief, Doug Rattray, was speaking after a group of traveller families pitched up on the Kingsmead Field in Canterbury earlier this month in a dozen caravans.

The authority’s enforcement team were quickly on site early the following morning and persuaded them to leave within 24 hours - before it was necessary to obtain a court order.

But the legal process for removing trespassers, detailed in the Criminal Justice Act of 1994, has now been complicated by the Human Rights Act and the Equalities Act which provide specific protection to travellers.

Mr Rattray says the authority is obliged to follow the rules but adopts a “polite, but firm” approach to moving them on.

“While the original law remains the same, what has changed is our tactical approach which can be more effective,” he said.

“And that relies heavily on the sensitive handling skills of those enforcement officers on site.

“But we are obliged to carry out welfare checks before moving anyone to see if there are any vulnerable people - for example, a sick child - and, if necessary, contact the relevant agencies.

"We are obliged to carry out welfare checks before moving anyone to see if there are any vulnerable people - for example, a sick child - and, if necessary, contact the relevant agencies..." - Doug Rattray

“Before seeking a court order, we give them a formal direction to leave within a reasonable period of 24 hours.

“If they refuse, we then seek a court order to serve on them, but often the first approach works best.”

Mr Rattray says most travellers only want to stay for a couple of days and often leave of their own accord.

“Each group is different and some can be more reasonable than others but we do let them know immediately that we mean business,” he said.

“We find that if we treat them with respect, they are more co-operative. The fact is, they don’t want a court order against them and the threat of their vehicles being seized by bailiffs if they don’t go.”

Mr Rattray says there are “misconceptions” on social media fuelled by previous incidents and bad experiences.

But he admits some groups can be more hostile than others and says the council will always take tough action with the support of the police if travellers refuse to co-operate.

He says the council adopted a “pragmatic” approach to the travellers’ litter at Kingsmead by leaving black plastic bags at the site, which Serco later collected.

“They don’t have access to the refuse services that others have and frankly, it’s the best way of dealing with it and doesn’t cost much,” he said.

Mr Rattray says he understands the public’s concerns that travellers get treated differently from others.

“I appreciate that is the perception and it is true that travellers know the law and how to push it to the limit,” he said.

“But we have to operate within that law, although I can assure residents that we take a robust approach when needed.”

Mr Rattray says most travellers move on without the council having to take action.

But that was not the case when a group arrived at the Neptune car park in Herne Bay on the Easter Bank Holiday last year, blocking access to the launch ramp.

They refused to budge and because of the holidays, the council could not get a court order.

The families enjoyed free parking by the seaside for four days before they left late on the Bank Holiday Monday.

They left behind a mess which needed cleaning up by Serco staff.

The council came under fire for not moving them off quicker or issuing them tickets for parking without paying.

“There would have been no point in ticketing them and then trying to chase them around the country with bailiffs if they didn’t pay,” said Mr Rattray.

He says the roll-out of automatic number plate reading barriers to car parks, including the Neptune, would help prevent travellers from gaining access in the future.