GMP accused of 'fuelling harmful racist stereotypes' as new details emerge of decision to turn Traveller kids away from Christmas markets
In disturbing scenes, dozens of young people from Traveller communities up and down the country - many of them children - were prevented from entering the markets and herded onto trains by police at Victoria railway station on Saturday, November 23. After footage of the incidents was shared online GMP were accused of 'heavy-handed and discriminatory action'.
Now documents released by GMP following a Freedom of Information request have revealed the force authorised two 48-hour dispersal orders amid concerns about 'multiple groups of Traveller youths... committing anti-social behaviour' on trains heading towards the city centre. The orders say police 'typically' see a 'significant number' of Traveller youths 'involved in anti-social behaviour and crime' while visiting the markets.
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And they also make reference to 'grabbing', a so-called courtship ritual which campaigners say is a 'racist misconception'. Following the release, leading figures in the Travelling community have accused GMP of racism, stereotyping and discrimination.
Yvonne MacNamara, CEO of the Traveller Movement, said: "These documents reveal that the appalling treatment of Romani Gypsies and Irish Traveller children in this incident was preplanned and fuelled by harmful racist stereotypes. We will be raising this with the GMP, the Independent Office for Police Conduct and the mayor's office as a matter of urgency."
The two dispersal orders were authorised at 12.13pm on November 23. One covered the city centre and another, almost identically worded order, covered the whole of Greater Manchester. It was likely the largest dispersal order GMP has issued and gave police the power to remove anyone considered to be causing anti-social behaviour from the entire county.
The orders refer to 'a large group of youths/young adults from the Traveller community' attending the markets for a 'social gathering'. It then lists some of the incidents police say they have dealt with in previous years, including 'grabbing', disrupting roads and tram tracks, hate crime, 'swarming' police officers and intimidation of market staff and members of the public.
On the morning of November 23 the orders say police received reports of 'multiple groups' of 50-70 Traveller youths coming to Manchester on trains from Doncaster, York and Darlington. British Transport Police described the groups as drinking and being involved in anti-social behaviour.
With the city centre already busy due to the markets and with football matches taking place at Rochdale, Bolton and Manchester City, police said 'additional dynamics and risks' would be created by 'having a large group of Traveller youths causing issues in the city centre'.
The order adds: "I have briefed... that dispersal powers should not be used indiscriminately against Traveller youths in general, as they have a right to come to Manchester as other youths do from different communities. Dispersal should only be focused on those committing or we suspect will commit ASB that justifies excluding them from either the city centre, or Greater Manchester.
"Where groups are identified at railway stations and subject to dispersal powers, [the operational commander] is empowered... to consider option to direct to leave on rail network."
Head Gypsy Billy Welch, who had more than 20 young relatives including two young grandchildren caught up in the trouble, said the wording of the orders 'exposes GMP's intolerance'.
He added: "This is a confession that they were targeting Gypsies and Travellers, and not just in the city centre but across the whole of Greater Manchester."
Ruth Ehrlich, from civil rights organisation Liberty, said: "It is completely wrong for Greater Manchester Police to have issued such broad and excessive bans against one particular community based on stereotyping and discrimination.
"The police should be meaningfully engaging with and talking to all communities, not continuing to discriminate against Romani Gypsies and Irish Travellers."
Other documents released by GMP as part of the FOI request reveal that 32 people, of which 25 were under the age of 21, were 'affected' by the orders. And as of December 2, the force had received 57 complaints, mainly about the treatment of people in train stations.
But, the GMP response notes, 42 of those complaints were made by people who weren't present and are 'therefore ineligible'. The incident prompted Travellers to march through Manchester city centre in protest, led by Big Fat Gypsy Weddings and Celebrity Big Brother star Paddy Doherty and Tommy Joyce, a well-known face among Greater Manchester's Traveller communities.
GMP later apologised for any 'distress and humiliation caused'. In December a mayoral review found there were 'lessons to be learned' in the force's handling of the incident.
Responding to to the latest criticism, Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson said: "Any use of police powers is not taken lightly and they are used with a great deal of consideration. Our ultimate aim is always to prevent crime and protect the public.
"While it is always difficult to know the full extent to which our decisions prevent crime and disruption, we understand that parts of the Roma Gypsy and Irish Traveller community felt distress, concern and humiliation as a result of our actions that day. This is deeply regrettable.
"Since the events of November, we have made positive strides to engage with the community and to avoid anything like this happening again. I look forward to meeting representatives again in Manchester later this month.
"We are already planning for how we police the Christmas markets later this year where we can ensure all who plan to come to Manchester safely can do so, especially families and young people. We also continue to reflect on how we police similar situations like this in future and are working with all relevant partners to ensure we are providing the best possible service to all those who live, work and visit our city."
Deputy Mayor Kate Gree, whose 'safer and stronger communities' remit involve supporting victims of crime, said: "Since this understandably distressing incident we have been taking part in proactive engagement with the communities affected. I am continuing to meet these communities and it is an absolute priority for us and GMP to make sure nothing like this happens again in the future."
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