A BIRMINGHAM MP has accused police of failing residents by not using tough powers available to them to shift a group of travellers from a beauty spot.

John Hemming (Lib Dem, Yardley) has demanded talks with senior officers over their response to the arrival of more than 20 caravans on Old Yardley Park.

The MP said that West Midlands Police should have used powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act to evict the gypsies.

The legislation allows police to clear travellers if there is evidence that they have committed a crime.

And Mr Hemming claims that the gypsies committed a crime by damaging a fence in order to gain access to the site.

He has also vowed to make sure that they are made to pay any clean up costs and has gathered registration details of vehicles being used by the families so they can be traced.

“I’m not impressed with the police response to this,” said Mr Hemming.