What does the future hold for Britain's Gypsies and Travellers?

The writing on the wall: in the years to follow the eviction at Dale Farm, Essex, Britain's Gypsies and Travellers all face an uncertain future. Photo: Elisabeth Blanchet

By Izzy Woods

The prejudices faced by the Traveller community have been forced into the spotlight by the recent eviction at Dale Farm.  The ensuing tabloid press coverage has highlighted the high level of discrimination that is still prevalent from many parts of the settled community leading to a number of questions about what the future holds for Britain’s Traveller community.

These prejudices are perpetuated by the current television obsession with documentaries and reality shows stereotyping the traveller way of life. These shows are watched by millions and make the stars of the show akin to zoo exhibits, being watched with fascination by the masses but not accepted as the same.

Governmental Prejudice

Under the current coalition government the austerity measures are arguably hitting the most vulnerable members of society hardest, and for those who are living on the fringes of society the spending cuts are having an even deeper effect.  The right of access to health care and education are under threat, despite many years of campaigning for these services to be accessible to all and the rising costs of necessities such as fuel and food are having an impact on all sectors of society.

Despite these austerity measures, Basildon council felt it was appropriate to spend over £7million on evicting 86 families from land that they owned and have lived on for a number of years, even though there is no suitable alternative accommodation for these families and a massive housing shortage across the UK.  What’s even more concerning is the fact that a recent YouGov poll showed that over 60% of the people they asked felt that this expenditure was entirely justified. 

Although there is a reported £47m funding pot which has been designated for the provision of legal Traveller sites across the UK to prevent a recurrence of the events at Dale Farm, there is little evidence to suggest that any of these sites will be ready before at least 2017.  In the meantime the Traveller families that were resident there are now being forced to live in unsanitary conditions with the constant threat of being moved on.  There is no question that this lack of site provision is blatant discrimination against the Traveller community.

It seems that this discrimination has been going on forever.   Despite what the tabloid press would try to have you believe, those who live in Traveller communities contribute to society while taking very little back in return.  Rent and rates are paid on the few legal sites that actually do exist, taxes are paid on income, motorhome insurance and road tax are kept up to date and the vast majority of travellers do not claim any kind of benefits however the law just keeps getting tougher for those who live an alternative lifestyle.  Since the 80s there have been increasing legislative moves to take away the Travellers' right to roam while making it ever more difficult to exist in mainstream society.

Discrimination: Attempting to Eliminate Traveller Communities for Good

The 1968 passage of the Caravans Sites Act was a big step in helping the Romany and Traveller community gain protection for certain aspects of their way of life in the UK. By the 1980s, however, with Thatcher’s eviction of hundreds of Travellers from sites across the country and the introduction of Clause 39 of the 1986 Public Order Act (which started to make the act of trespass a criminal offence) these hard fought for rights were already being diminished with new police powers.

The introduction of the Criminal Justice Act in 1994 further criminalised the act of trespass along with making the gathering of more than 20 people an illegal event.  Now with the introduction of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill in 2011 it is clear that the Traveller community is being unfairly targeted and discriminated against by government legislation.

According to housing legislation site Nearly Legal around 25% of Gypsies and Travellers who live in caravans are living on unauthorised sites, but this is rarely by choice.  There are simply not enough legal sites available to house the numbers of Travellers who are living in Britain today.  This contravention of human rights is being totally ignored not only by the government, but by a large percentage of the settled community.  The intentional criminalisation of the Traveller community is a blatant disregard for a way of life that has been around for many hundreds of years.

The Future for Britain's Travellers

So what does the future hold for Britain’s Traveller population?  There is little doubt that there are incredibly tough times on the horizon.  There needs to be constant pressure on the authorities alongside raising awareness of the discrimination that Travellers face to ensure that this way of life is not eroded forever.