’tis hard to believe, but the government are about to bring forward, proposals to further outlaw traveller ways. CJA not quite enough then…
Here is the next installment.
The story so far, for travellers in this country has been oppressive. No change there then!
Bloody Heck! Here is the next instalment,
Some of this has been ‘expressed’ up the agenda, by the events at Smeathorpe, Glastonbury fringes, and would you believe, trad travellers camping out on the lawns at Eton College.
Michael Howard (bless him), the Author of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, produced the Tories effort at our control.
&
Jack Straw (also bless him), a couple of years ago had provoked a storm of controversy after suggesting groups of travellers were trading on a sentimental “gypsy” image while committing serious crimes.
Right and left have been equally horrid to us. Travellers and similar really do have no political friends and just have to take what’s thrown.
It appears that this lot is pointing at traditional travellers,
HOWEVER,
apart from those that live in ‘tourist type’ bow-tops and selling lavender, will all be treated the same. Our ‘internal’ distinctions that we make, on what ‘tribe’ we are in, makes no diff to these chaps.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4456003,00.html
Police given new powers to evict Gypsies from sites
Patrick Wintour, chief political correspondent
Guardian
Saturday July 6, 2002
The government yesterday responded to a storm of often media-led pressure by announcing that the police are to be given new powers to evict Gypsies and travellers if they refuse to move on to local authority designated sites.
Ministers also said they would not require every local council to set up official sites for travellers.
At present the police can only evict if there is evidence of abusive behaviour, criminal damage or the presence of six or more vehicles on the site. The powers do not apply if the encampment is on land forming part of the highway.
In a compromise the government has decided the eviction powers will only apply where local authorites have made provision for temporary, transit and emergency stopping sites for travellers who regularly pass through their area.
Ministers hope their proposals will ease the cultural clashes between travellers and the community but Andrew Ryder, the secretary of the Labour campaign for travellers rights, said the measures did not go far enough to help travellers.
“It is essential there is a good system of sites available, or else eviction leads to travellers being pushed on from one site to another. Many of the problems are caused by social exclusion from services, and the refusal of councils to give planning permission for Gypsies to live on their own land,” he said.
The government announced that some money in an existing £17m Gypsy site fund is likely to be rechanneled so councils open up new sites.
Mr Ryder also pointed out that Labour had condemned the decision of the Conservative government eight years ago to remove the obligation on councils to provide sites as reckless and spiteful.
In January, the official government count found that 2,774 caravans – or 20% of all British Gypsy caravans – were on unauthorised encampments. The survey showed 326 more families were on unauthorised sites than in January 2001, without guaranteed access to water, toilets and schooling.
The package, jointly announced by the Home Office and the office of the deputy prime minister yesterday, is designed to meet the continuing complaints that travellers ruin the local landscape, leave litter and behave anti-socially.
The plan – vague in parts – appears to have been rushed out ahead of a private members bill to be debated next week and sponsored by the Conservative MP for Bournemouth East, David Atkinson. The Tory-led bill is likely to be more generous to travellers than government policy, but would also underline ministerial failure to come up with its own response.
The government acknowledged that disputes between councils and police over responsibility often leave communities angry at the failure of anyone to intervene. Many Tory MPs have claimed the police probably have adequate powers to remove trespassers, but do not use them.
Even Labour MPs, such as Bill Rammell, MP for Harlow, have called for travellers, rather than council tax payers to be made liable for damage caused during an illegal occupation. Guidance on managing unauthorised camping, including the proper disposal of waste, will be published in the autumn.
The guidance will emphasise the “same standards of behaviour and regard for the law are expected from all sectors of the community, including regard for public health and waste”.
Gypsies claim the problem of the lack of sites is compounded by their inadequate quality. Many of 325 local authority Gypsy sites in England are often near rubbish dumps, sewage works or noisy industrial facilities. It has been claimed they epitomise the definition of a ghetto.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_2097000/2097667.stm
Friday, 5 July, 2002, 14:53 GMT 15:53 UK
BBC – Travellers face eviction powers
Police could be given new powers against unauthorised traveller camps in what ministers are calling a “radical overhaul” of existing measures. Travellers can currently only be evicted if there has been criminal damage or anti-social behaviour on campsites.
The new powers could be used without that condition but only in areas where local councils have provided temporary sites for regular travellers.
Ministers are planning to help councils fund new temporary camps, as well as continuing to help refurbishing existing local authority sites.
Unauthorised camps have frequently caused rows between travellers and angry local residents in many parts of the UK.
Help for local councils
Authorised council sites have also prompted planning rows.
Full details of the plans, published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Home Office, will be announced in the autumn.
The government is stressing that “tough” new police eviction powers must be linked to the availability of legal sites.
The government plans to provide initial funding to help local councils for “temporary, transit and emergency” stops by travellers.
That money is set to be put forward in 2003 along with a new look to the next round of the gypsy site refurbishment programme.
The government has, however, yet to say how much money it will provide.
New national guidance is being put out on dealing with unauthorised camping.
No ‘blind eye’
Ministers say those guidelines will be shaped by the views of residents, business people and farmers, as well as travellers.
A government spokesman said: “The new guidance will in particular emphasise the need for effective local strategies.”
Those strategies needed to make clear where police and local councils took the lead.
Housing Minister Tony McNulty said the plans would help councils deal with the problem of unauthorised camps.
“Our strategy is balanced and fair,” said Mr McNulty. ”
“The same standard of behaviour of travellers should be the same as that expected of the settled community and does not mean turning a blind eye to anti-social behaviour.”
Room for caravans
In January this year there were 325 local council traveller camp sites with room for more than 5,000 caravans.
The government says that national network can accommodate “just under half of gypsy caravans”.
But local councils are also told to consider providing places with basic waste, water and toilet facilities where travellers who visit their areas regularly can stop.
Police recently moved on travellers from land owned by exclusive Berkshire school Eton College because they believed there had been criminal damage.
Three years ago, then Home Secretary Jack Straw was accused of racism by travellers’ leaders.
Mr Straw has provoked a storm of controversy after suggesting groups of travellers were trading on a sentimental “gypsy” image while committing serious crimes.
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http://213.219.10.30/n_story.asp?item_id=136
HOME OFFICE
A NEW APPROACH TO TACKLING UNAUTHORISED TRAVELLER CAMPS
Reference: STATEMENT – Date: 5 Jul 2002 10:59
A radical overhaul of policy on unauthorised traveller encampments has been announced today to tackle public concern about nuisance and disorder arising from such encampments.
The Government’s new strategy combines tough powers for police to move on unauthorised traveller encampments with improved local site provisions.
The range of actions include:
Provide initial funding to facilitate the provision of temporary, transit and emergency stopping place sites for travellers.
As a first step the 2003/4 round of the Gypsy Site Refurbishment Programme will be revised so as to provide initial funding for temporary sites as well as continuing to provide money to help with the refurbishment of existing network local authority authorised sites. The details are currently being drawn up, and bidding guidance with full details will be issued in the autumn.
Produce new guidance on managing unauthorised camping.
The guidance will be informed by views both from the settled communities, including residents, business people and farmers, and travellers. The new guidance will in particular emphasise the need for effective local strategies which set out clearly lead responsibilities between local authorities and the police for taking action. The guidance will emphasise that the same standards of behaviour and regard for the law are expected from all sectors of the community, including regard for public health, proper disposal of waste and the conduct of business activities. The new guidance will be issued this Autumn.
Provide police with increased powers to move on unauthorised traveller encampments.
The police will have new eviction powers only where local authorities have made provision for temporary, transit and emergency stopping sites proportionate to the number of travellers that regularly pass through their area. This reflects the Government’s view that the use of stronger enforcement powers and adequate site provision must be linked.
Housing and Regeneration Minister Tony McNulty said the revised policy was a very positive step towards helping local authorities address the issue of unauthorised encampments by, amongst other things, improving site provision:
“Our strategy is balanced and fair. The standard of behaviour of travellers should be the same as that expected of the settled community and does not mean turning a blind eye to anti-social behaviour.”
Home Office Minister John Denham said:
“Taken together this approach signifies the Government’s determination to provide a viable framework within which local agencies – in particular local authorities and the police – can respond to unauthorised camping in a way which recognises the needs and concerns of both the settled and traveller communities.”
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http://www.odpm.gov.uk/news/0207/0026.htm
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
News Release 026:
5 July 2002
A new approach to tackling unauthorised traveller camps
A radical overhaul of policy on unauthorised traveller encampments has been announced today to tackle public concern about nuisance and disorder arising from such encampments.
The Government’s new strategy combines tough powers for police to move on unauthorised traveller encampments with improved local site provisions.
The range of actions include:
Providing initial funding to facilitate the provision of temporary, transit and emergency stopping place sites for travellers.
As a first step the 2003/4 round of the Gypsy Site Refurbishment Programme will be revised so as to provide initial funding for temporary sites as well as continuing to provide money to help with the refurbishment of existing network local authority authorised sites. The details are currently being drawn up, and bidding guidance with full details will be issued in the autumn.
Producing new guidance on managing unauthorised camping.
The guidance will be informed by views both from the settled communities, including residents, business people and farmers, and travellers. The new guidance will in particular emphasise the need for effective local strategies which set out clearly lead responsibilities between local authorities and the police for taking action. The guidance will emphasise that the same standards of behaviour and regard for the law are expected from all sectors of the community, including regard for public health, proper disposal of waste and the conduct of business activities. The new guidance will be issued this Autumn.
Providing police with increased powers to move on unauthorised traveller encampments.
The police will have new eviction powers only where local authorities have made provision for temporary, transit and emergency stopping sites proportionate to the number of travellers that regularly pass through their area. This reflects the Government’s view that the use of stronger enforcement powers and adequate site provision must be linked.
Housing and Regeneration Minister Tony McNulty said the revised policy was a very positive step towards helping local authorities address the issue of unauthorised encampments, by amongst other things, improving site provision:
“Our strategy is balanced and fair. The standard of behaviour of travellers should be the same as that expected of the settled community. However, this does not mean turning a blind eye to anti-social behaviour.
Home Office Minister John Denham said:
“Taken together this approach signifies the Government’s determination to provide a viable framework within which local agencies – in particular local authorities and the police – can respond to unauthorised camping in a way which recognises the needs and concerns of both the settled and traveller communities.”
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Media enquiries:
Home Office 020 7273 2465/2274
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 020 7944 4603;
Out of hours: 020 7944 5925/5945
Public Enquiries Unit 020 7944 3000
E-mail: press@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
press@odpm.gsi.gov.uk
Web site www.homeoffice.gov.uk
http://www.odpm.gov.uk/
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Published 5 July 2002
