Update:  The vehicles left the park reportedly on Saturday morning (Aug 23).
Caravans and other vehicles entered Riverside Park late on Thursday (Aug 21) and formed an unauthorised encampment.

It’s understood access was again gained via the gate by Woodmill – the site of previous access for a small and short-lived encampment in May.

The encampment is in the park shortly beyond the secondary school heading north.

Welfare officers have visited the site, and police are liaising with the landowners – assumed to be the city council.

In previous similar situations this was complicated by the now defunct Active Nation being the leaseholder.

Hampshire Constabulary told bitternepark.info: “We were made aware of an unauthorised encampment around 10:30pm last night (21 August), at Riverside Park.

“Approximately 15 caravans, and the equivalent number of other vehicles are currently on the site.

“Officers have attended the site, and we are liaising the landowners.”

 Access was reportedly gained using the gate by Woodmill

Southampton City Council has said at 4pm on Friday that their 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.

It's understood that when police invoke a 'Section 61' it means those on the site must leave as soon as practicable. If they don't, or if they return as trespassers within 12 months, they are committing a criminal offence and may be arrested.

On Friday afternoon at around 3.30pm there were around ten large caravans along with other vehicles in the park.

Social media has been alight with comments, with one reader contributing: “I saw them enter riverside at around 10.15 I informed the police and when I came back that way at around 11 they were still driving along riverside and police were driving about. Obviously didn’t get them off the park then.”