Thread by @GypsyTravellers

Today we release 'Briefing on new police powers for roadside camps in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill: Part 4'

Here's what you need to know:

🚫The measures outlined in the #PolicingBill will worsen inequalities already experienced by Gypsies and Travellers (1/n)

🚫The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will needlessly push Gypsies and Travellers in to the criminal justice system

🚫The powers will disproportionately affect specific minority and ethnic communities and is likely to be in conflict with human rights legislation (2/n)

🚫 An enforcement approach to addressing the number of roadside camps overlooks the issue of the lack of site provision. There are not enough places where Gypsies and Travellers are permitted to stop or reside. (3/n)

🚫 There are other solutions to managing roadside camps, such as negotiated stopping where stopping is agreed with local authorities at a permitted time with provision of basic amenities such as water, sanitation and refuse collection. (4/n)

🚫The planning definition of 'Gypsy' and 'Traveller' requires proof of travelling - without that you're not assessed as needing a pitch and won't get planning permission, but under these powers, travelling will be prohibited by law. (5/n)

🚫 Police Forces, the bodies responsible for enforcing the legislation, do not support the criminalisation of trespass.

🚫The majority of respondents to the @ukhomeoffice opposed more police powers. (6/n)

These proposals are being put forward despite there being a range of other eviction powers for roadside camps and despite a range of alternative solutions grounded in common sense with an equality approach, such as the provision of more sites and stopping places. (7/n)

There was a majority opposition to the introduction of more punitive powers in the consultation responses, which have been disregarded, and a glaring absence of any substantive mitigating measures to these harmful proposals. (8/n)

Read the briefing:
gypsy-traveller.org/wp-content/upl…