Latest news with #RomaniGypsy
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Traveller family WIN right to stay at car park after it is ruled their human rights were breached when council turfed them out - but they say it's not enough
A family of travellers who have won a landmark case to stay at a car park have insisted they will 'never stop fighting' for permanent residency. The group, comprising of 15 adults and 14 children, first arrived at the former park-and-ride site in July 2023, setting up home at the Wigmore Coach Park, just off the M2. Medway Council, based in Kent, had initially granted them permission to stay at the site for three months if they paid a monthly fee and stuck to a number of rules. However, in October last year, the local authority handed the Romani Gypsy family an eviction notice, stating that they had planned to sell the land, previously a park and ride used for those commuting to London, in the near future. Now, a judge has made the milestone judgement that the authority wrongly interfered with the group's human rights by attempting to turf them out, having heard that no steps were taken to sell the site. Speaking to MailOnline about the milestone case, described by one involved solicitor as the first of its kind in a decade, Julie White, who lives at the site, said: 'We're over the moon with the initial decision, it's like winning the lottery. To have somebody on our side that is willing to help us has been absolutely amazing.' However, much to the family's fury, the significant decision means that while the travellers can remain on the site for now, they still do not hold the permanent rights to stay at the car park. While an initial planning application was submitted last May, it was refused just two months later. An appeal against the refusal set to take place next Wednesday, with the family anxiously awaiting the verdict. Oldy Herring, 67, the eldest member of the family, described the battle with Medway Council as the 'fight of our lives'. He added: 'There's nowhere else we can go. If this place is not fit for us, then where is fit enough? 'We've been all over Kent. We've been pushed from pillar to post all of our lives, this is the only thing we have been given in our lives. 'People don't understand our lives or our culture. We don't cause any harm to anybody, we just want a home. We are literally begging for help.' The family said that the rules placed on them by the council when they first arrived at the site included 'no anti-social behaviour', 'no work', 'no complaints' and that they had 'to keep the place tidy'. They insisted that all of these rules have been 'strictly' followed and that the council has 'no good reason' for kicking them out. Relying on generators for electricity and water, the travellers currently pay £33 a month to the council for the bins and animals on the land. Now, as they fight for permanent residence, the family have indicated that the council's refusal to grant the planning application is bound to have 'worrying' impacts on their children's mental health. And, with no fixed place to stay, members of the group have no postcode and therefore have limited access to essential services such as healthcare and education. Marie Conde, who lives on the site alongside her husband and children, said: 'I do worry about the kids, moving them out of school would be awful for them. They have finally been accepted and been able to make friends, they're getting an education which is so important. 'It's the first time they've felt truly settled and accepted, how can they take that from them? 'We are decent people and a close family that deserve to be together. We just want to make this our permanent home and a place for our children and grandchildren, the next generation.' Speaking about the landmark case, described by one solicitor as the first of its kind in a decade, Julie White (pictured), who lives at the site, said: 'We're over the moon with the decision, it's like winning the lottery' Meanwhile, Tina Herring, 17, who spent the majority of her young childhood on the road, described the car park as 'the closest it's got to feeling like home'. The teenager added: 'Being here has made me feel so much more settled and safe, rather than being on the road all of the time. 'Not knowing what's going to happen next is so stressful for all of us, but especially on the younger kids.' While the family celebrated the decision as a 'turning point' and anxiously await the results of next Wednesday, Medway Council, however, said that it was deciding 'how best to move forward' - describing the judge's verdict as 'disappointing'. Cllr Louwella Prenter, Medway Council's Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness, said: 'We are disappointed with the county court judgement not to grant possession of the former Wigmore commuter car park in Maidstone Road, back to Medway Council. Previous investigations have shown that many local authorities in Kent are still failing to meet the accommodation needs of the travelling community, despite it being a legal requirement 'This is a lengthy and detailed decision, and we will give it due consideration before deciding how best to move forward. 'Granting use of the site was only ever intended as a temporary three-month measure, and the car park is not deemed to be suitable as a long-term site for permanent occupation.' Previous investigations have shown that many local authorities in Kent are still failing to meet the accommodation needs of the travelling community, despite it being a legal requirement. After legislation was introduced allowing local authorities to evict, fine or arrest travellers setting up unauthorised encampments, they are often left being moved from roadside to roadside. In 2021, there were 5,405 people across Kent who identified as a Gypsy or Irish Traveller, representing up to 0.3 per cent of the population, according to the ONS. Meanwhile, an additional 2,225 people identified as Roma, amounting to 0.1 per cent of the population, with many of these individuals housed on traveller sites.
Sunday World
25-04-2025
- Sunday World
Police watchdog to probe ‘heavy-handed' treatment and profiling of Irish Traveller children
It comes following an incident whereby they were allegedly forced back onto trains and prohibited from attending a Christmas market A police watchdog is set to launch a probe into the alleged heavy-handed treatment, and racial profiling of Irish Traveller children. It comes after a number of Romani Gypsy and Irish Traveller youths were prohibited from attending a Christmas market in Manchester. It's alleged that Greater Manchester Police (GMP) forced them back onto trains as they arrived at Manchester Victoria on November 23 of last year. A dispersal order was issued on the day after police said 'intelligence' had been received about anti-social behaviour on trains. A spokesperson for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed that the watchdog has received a request to review the incident and the cop's handling of the complaint. The Traveller Movement has asked for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to review the case, saying the police response to their complaint. Yvonne MacNamara, Chief Executive Officer, said the children involved had been "humiliated, manhandled and denied basic respect and safeguarding.' The charity allege that children were separated from their families, subjected to abuse and remarks about their ethnicity, and forced onto trains going to unknown destinations. Police reps met with The Traveller Movement to address their concerns following the incident. "This forum was open and constructive," a spokesperson for the GMP said, adding that they looked 'forward to working more closely with community representatives going forward.' Assistant Chief Constable for the GMP, Rick Jackson, expressed "regret at the distress caused" by the incident, and added that the use of police powers were "not taken lightly" and 'used with a great deal of consideration.' "Our clients are hopeful that an IOPC review will expose what they believe is the clear institutional racism that led to this appalling incident,' a legal representative for The Traveller Movement said.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Traveller charity urges police watchdog review
A police watchdog has been urged to investigate an incident in which officers were accused of being "heavy-handed" after large groups of Romani Gypsy and Irish Traveller youths were stopped from attending a city's Christmas market The groups were met by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) at Manchester Victoria on 23 November last year and allegedly "forced" back on to the trains they arrived on. The Traveller Movement said the force's response to its complaint about the incident was "deeply flawed" and it had now asked the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to review the case. Both GMP and the IOPC have been contacted for comment. GMP previously said a dispersal order was put in place on the day in response to "intelligence" about anti-social behaviour on trains and in the city. The Traveller Movement alleged children were racially profiled by officers and excessive force was used. GMP met representatives from Romani Gypsy and Irish Traveller communities in the aftermath of the incident and expressed "regret at the distress and upset these events had caused". Greater Manchester deputy mayor Kate Green previously found the dispersal order raised concerns about discrimination and could have been avoided. Ryan Bradshaw, from law firm Leigh Day which represents the Traveller Movement, said: "Our clients are hopeful that an IOPC review will expose what they believe is the clear institutional racism that led to this appalling incident." It is alleged by the charity that children were forced onto trains heading to unknown destinations, separated from their families and subjected to physical abuse and disparaging remarks about their ethnicity. Pauline Melvin-Anderson OBE from the Traveller Movement said the police response to the charity's complaint was "deeply flawed and lacks transparency". She said it was a "blatant attempt to justify the unjustifiable". "Our children were humiliated, physically harmed, and placed in vulnerable situations because of discriminatory assumptions about their communities," she said. "We will not rest until a full inquiry takes place." The Traveller Movement has called for the IOPC to step in and investigate and for GMP to apologise and disclose the "intelligence" it relied upon to justify its actions. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Dispersal order 'could have been avoided' - deputy mayor Traveller charity angry at police dispersal order Police accused of 'heavy-handed' dispersal response The Traveller Movement
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Police watchdog urged to probe 'heavy-handed' dispersal response
A police watchdog has been urged to investigate an incident in which officers were accused of being "heavy-handed" after large groups of Romani Gypsy and Irish Traveller youths were stopped from attending a city's Christmas marketThe groups were met by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) at Manchester Victoria on 23 November last year and allegedly "forced" back on to the trains they arrived Traveller Movement said the force's response to its complaint about the incident was "deeply flawed" and it had now asked the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to review the GMP and the IOPC have been contacted for comment. GMP previously said a dispersal order was put in place on the day in response to "intelligence" about anti-social behaviour on trains and in the city. The Traveller Movement alleged children were racially profiled by officers and excessive force was met representatives from Romani Gypsy and Irish Traveller communities in the aftermath of the incident and expressed "regret at the distress and upset these events had caused". 'Unjustifiable' Greater Manchester deputy mayor Kate Green previously found the dispersal order raised concerns about discrimination and could have been Bradshaw, from law firm Leigh Day which represents the Traveller Movement, said: "Our clients are hopeful that an IOPC review will expose what they believe is the clear institutional racism that led to this appalling incident."It is alleged by the charity that children were forced onto trains heading to unknown destinations, separated from their families and subjected to physical abuse and disparaging remarks about their ethnicity. Pauline Melvin-Anderson OBE from the Traveller Movement said the police response to the charity's complaint was "deeply flawed and lacks transparency".She said it was a "blatant attempt to justify the unjustifiable"."Our children were humiliated, physically harmed, and placed in vulnerable situations because of discriminatory assumptions about their communities," she said. "We will not rest until a full inquiry takes place." The Traveller Movement has called for the IOPC to step in and investigate and for GMP to apologise and disclose the "intelligence" it relied upon to justify its actions. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
