New Bill threatens life of Gypsies and Travellers

Noreen and Mary Kate Stokes at Westminster Cathedral Travellers Mass 2018 image ICN/JS

Source: London Irish Centre/ICN

Concerns have been raised over several aspects of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (PCSCB). One part of the Bill poses a serious threat to the lives of Gypsies and Travellers. Part Four of the PCSCB outlines measures to introduce a new criminal offence of trespass with the intent to reside, and extend existing powers in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (CJPOA).

The introduction of a new criminal offence where trespassers have the intent to reside, means the police can exercise powers to seize a vehicle, imprison or impose a fine. There are already a wide range of powers in place to evict unauthorised encampments, some within an hour if anti-social behaviour is taking place. The new bill seeks to take an enforcement and criminal approach to what is the only possible response to the lack of proper site provision for Gypsies and Travellers.

There is a huge lack of council sites and stopping places and a condition when applying for planning permission for sites means that Gypsies and Travellers must prove they 'travel' to be eligible. Providing this proof will be almost impossible if this new bill comes into place.

This bill will push an already disadvantaged minority ethnic group into the criminal justice system, cause the seizure of people's homes, further increase health inequality, reduce school attendance, and mean the unnecessary involvement of children's social services if parents and guardians are criminalised.

Many police forces have come forward to state they do not support the criminalisation of trespass. Negotiated stopping sites would be a far more effective way to reduce unauthorised encampments. Arrangements for an unused piece of land to be used for a specific time period - with sanitation and waste disposal mutually agreed between those travelling and the local authority - would prevent unauthorised encampments and provide suitable support for those travelling.

Gypsy and Travellers already suffer massive discrimination and hardship because of the lack of official stopping sites and educational, social and medical services. This new Bill threatens to destroy their entire way of life.