Traveller Issues - Overview

The numbers of Gypsies and Travellers in the UK are not accurately known as they were not included as separate categories in the 2001 census. The absence of reliable data on population size is reflected in the lack of information about Gypsies and Travellers' access to, and experiences of, public services.

Romany Gypsies have been a part of British society since the 1500s, Irish Travellers since the 1800s, and both groups are legally recognised as ethnic groups with distinct cultures and traditions. The courts have made clear that travelling is not a defining characteristic of the groups but only one among others, which is significant because the majority of Britain's Gypsies and Travellers live in conventional 'bricks and mortar' housing. Some do so by choice, others because of the severe shortage of Gypsy sites. Those living in caravans travel to varying degrees. While a small number are highly mobile, some travel only during the summer months and some travel little or not at all but still want to live in a caravan, surrounded by their extended family. The shortage of authorised residential and transit sites means that some camp unlawfully leading to regular 'enforced' nomadism through constant evictions. For those who do not travel, travelling is more a 'state of mind' than a day-to-day reality. The courts have ruled that nomadism and living in a caravan is a reflection of Gypsies' and Irish Travellers' cultural heritage and not simply a lifestyle choice that can be ignored.

South Cambridgeshire has recorded more Gypsy and Traveller caravans than any other district in England, a total of over 600 in recent years. A significant majority of these caravans are located on authorised sites, with planning permission. There is an important distinction between individual caravans and what is known as a "pitch" which can accommodate several caravans belonging to an individual family. The number of caravans typically varies by family size.

Gypsy and Traveller Community Strategy

Gypsies and Travellers constitute South Cambridgeshire's largest minority ethnic community, comprising 1% of its population. The Cambridge Sub-Region Traveller Needs Assessment (CSTNA) highlights that Gypsies and Travellers are often more disadvantaged than any other ethnic group in terms of access to healthcare and education.

In February 2010, Cabinet adopted the Council's first Gypsy and Traveller Community Strategy. The vision for this strategy, our first focusing on Gypsy and Traveller communities, is:

To ensure that Gypsy and Traveller communities enjoy equality of service and are part of cohesive communities within which people from different backgrounds participate together and share equal rights and responsibilities.

Our objectives are to:

Provide a consistent, co-ordinated approach across the Council, and through its partnerships, to its work with Gypsies and Travellers.
Improve access to services and the responsiveness of mainstream services and ensure that Gypsy and Traveller rights and needs are integrated into existing policies and mainstream services.
Foster good community relationships, eliminate unlawful racial discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and positively promote mutual understanding, respect and tolerance between Gypsies and Travellers and other members of our rural communities.
Work with partners, including health, police, voluntary agencies, and other local authorities to address issues of social exclusion amongst Gypsy and Traveller communities.
Ensure that the accommodation and other needs of Gypsies/Travellers are met whilst taking account of cultural issues or specific requirements.
Seek to manage unauthorised camping in an efficient and effective way, having regard to the welfare requirements, rights and responsibilities of Gypsies and Travellers, the environment and the potential level of nuisance for local residents.
Provide a clear policy and practice framework for the guidance of agencies, staff, elected members, Gypsies and Travellers, landowners and the wider public.

Whilst there are some good examples of service delivery by the Council and by our partners we recognise that there are areas where we need to strengthen our work with, and our approach to, the Gypsy and Traveller community. This strategy reviews where we are now, identifies areas for improvement and how we will address these.

The key priority areas for action are:

Raising awareness of Gypsy and Traveller culture, the duty to promote equality and practical ways to achieve this
Providing strategic direction and co-ordination
Establishing two-way engagement with Gypsy and Traveller communities
Promoting community cohesion
Improving partnership working
Improving access to, and experience of, services

This strategy, when referring to Gypsies and Travellers, includes new travellers and Travelling Showpeople as well as Gypsies and Irish Travellers, who are distinct ethnic groups covered by Race Relations legislation.

The Travellers Strategic Officer Group will have primary responsibility for regular monitoring of the strategy. The Equality and Diversity Steering Group will also oversee its implementation as part of its wider remit to support the development and implementation of policies and practices to enable the Council to meet its statutory obligations and achieve its commitment to equality and diversity given in the Comprehensive Equality Policy.