Police called after Penrith Town Councillor refused to leave private property

Police were called after Penrith Town Council member Cllr Thomson entered the Newton Rigg private estate on Friday afternoon and refused to leave after he had been asked to leave by security staff on the site.

After Cllr Thomson persistent refusal to vacate the premises, Cumbria police have confirmed in a short statement to Penrith.Town “Police were contacted at 7:25pm on Friday 26 May following a report of a man refusing to leave private property at the former Newton Rigg Campus.”

Cllr Thomson eventually left the private land after Cumbria police officers engaging in dialogue with him.

On Friday late afternoon Cllr Thomson had issued a request for others to come and join him at Newton Rigg with his request saying “Urgent call. Can anyone come to Newton Rigg now?”

Cllr Thomson subsequently took to social media, claiming that he had called the police twice on Friday during incidents, but expressed his belief that the police were "NOT interested" in his concerns.

In response, Cumbria police stated, "Concerns raised by the man were investigated by officers, and no further action is being taken."

The incident involving Cllr Thomson as an elected Penrith Town Council member has sparked discussions within the community regarding his motivations and the potential consequences for his role as a public servant. It has also raised questions among some residents we have spoken with in the Penrith West Ward, Cllr Thomson represents on the town council about the conduct expected from elected officials and their responsibility to abide by the law. With one resident saying “his call for others to join him on the private land was incitement of others to commit the same act of trespassing and breaking the law not what you expect of a councillor.”

What do you think of the actions of the town councillor?