The leaders of Brighton and Hove Council have accused Sussex Police of failing

to tackle the problem of Travellers in the area.

Council leader Lynette Gwyn-Jones and chief executive Glynn Jones held top-level talks with Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse yesterday.

It follows an influx of travellers on to unauthorised and sensitive sites.

Coun Gwyn-Jones said the council was attempting to tackle the problem, which she said had left some parks "under occupation".

But she added: "We need the support of police and we need them to be more responsive to our calls for a workable solution to the problem.

"We clearly cannot tolerate the situation any longer. It seems Brighton and Hove, despite action by the council to prevent access to many many sites, has become a magnet for new types of travellers who will not hesitate to damage property and behave violently towards the local community.

"Local people, who have experienced this new style of aggressive behaviour, have rightly become impatient with the time it takes the police to move them on.

"We need to work out a better and quicker solution to dealing with more aggressive travellers who damage public property and deprive local people of the use of parks, but we cannot do it alone.

"The council always takes action immediately but it has limited legal powers and those powers take time.

"While we appreciate the problems the police have, it is totally unacceptable that our public parks can effectively be under occupation. I am calling on the police to enforce the rule of law."

Councillor Bob Carden, who chairs the council's police and public safety forum, went to see the site in Preston Park for himself.

The Argus reported yester day that neighbours complained this group was spoiling the park.

Coun Carden said: "The council is really on top of the problem and is liaising with the police."

But Opposition Tory leader Geoffrey Theobald said: "The leader of the council and the environment cabinet councillor have not been doing enough all summer."

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: "Police have power under the Criminal Justice Act to serve notice on trespassers to leave land.

"Strict conditions apply, and the detailed considerations that need to be raised means use of this power will always be the exception rather than the rule.

"Travellers tend to be attracted to the same sites in Brighton and Hove, usually sensitive areas of council-owned land."

She added use of the Criminal Justice Act would not lead to a speedy eviction. It was often felt more appropriate to let landlords deal with the matter through the courts.