THE chief constable of West Mercia Police has urged councils across Worcestershire to offer permanent pitches for travellers - saying it is frustrating the force.

David Shaw has urged local authorities to bite the bullet in creating more lawful sites for them to stay, but has admitted it is politically "controversial".

His comments came during a meeting of the police and crime panel, where one councillor said "if you get rubbish facilities you get rubbish behaviour" from travellers.

The police chief also used the debate to say his officers are hamstrung by Government legislation which often leaves them powerless to move any groups on.

Mr Shaw said: "It always feels like we're going in with our hands tied behind our backs sometimes, that's a personal view, it isn't always as robust as we want it to be.

"We actually have a piece of work going on at the moment which is about how we 'skill up' key people, particularly sergeants and inspectors, about how they respond to traveller issues.

"I wouldn't say it's perfect, we're trying our best and sometimes we have very good results, but we share your frustration about not being able to move on some travellers who are staying unlawfully.

He added: "But I can't resist the opportunity to raise an issue, which is a reoccurring one about site provision - we're really hamstrung in terms of having sites to locate travellers on to.

"I know the political complexities around this, it's a difficult thing to say they should be located 'here' or 'here', it's difficult policy to implement because it is controversial, but it's potentially part of the solution."

Councillor Sebastian Bowen said: "I think you've got to be very careful where you put these sites - but you've also got to give them decent facilities, if you put them in rubbish facilities you get rubbish behaviour."

Travellers are a regular sight around the county, particularly in Worcester where a set of five caravans appeared at the field off Pitchcroft known as The Moors last weekend, forcing the university to section it off.

And earlier this month a group moved onto land at Perdiswell Sports Centre.

Last month a gang of travellers forced their way onto the car boot sale fields off the A4440 Broomhall Way in St Peter's, leading to hefty police resources being diverted to it.