‘Firm but Fair’
Better liaison between the authorities and Gypsy and Traveller groups is improving relations between the travelling and settled communities, and saving taxpayers thousands of pounds.
A new protocol to standardise the approach taken by the Police and Local Authorities to unauthorised encampments has been signed recently. It aims to ensure that Gypsy and Traveller groups who camp illegally in the County are managed in a firm but fair manner, taking account of their needs while respecting the rights of landowners and neighbouring settled communities.
Representatives from Warwickshire, North Warwickshire, Nuneaton, Warwick, Rugby and Stratford Councils and the Police Service have signed the protocol and adopted the new procedure for dealing with unauthorised camps.
Other services involved in the partnership include the Warwickshire Race Equalities Partnership, Warwickshire Primary Care Trust and the West Midlands Consortium for Travelling Children.
Improved relationships and liaison between the authorities and Gypsy & Traveller groups has minimised the cost of dealing with unauthorised encampments: last year Warwickshire County Council spending on legal costs and fees was down to £600 from an average of around £14,000 previously.
Better communications have allowed all sorts of welfare issues to be dealt with, and is resulting in better understanding in both Gypsy & Traveller communities and settled communities of each other’s needs, rights and responsibilities.
Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment said: “The new protocol makes actions clear to all parties involved. For example when information is received that an unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller site has been set up, officers from the Local Authority and the Gypsy & Traveller Liaison Officer will visit the site as soon as possible.
“The aim of the visit is to find out the intentions of the group, advise them that they are camping illegally, and establish if there are any welfare problems in the group. Following this initial visit, a case conference will be held, including officers from the Police, Environmental Health, Planning, Housing and Legal Services, and the Gypsy & Traveller Liaison Officer. Health issues and any children’s educational needs can be assessed, and any other welfare matters dealt with.
“If eviction of the group is deemed appropriate then action will be initiated. Eviction can be a lengthy business; the authorities must behave reasonably and take into account human rights and welfare needs. However, we are already seeing the benefits of this new partnership approach to unauthorised encampments.”
A Local Authority will only take enforcement action against encampments on its own land. On private land it is the landowners responsibility, but the Council will advise and support as appropriate.
Many unauthorised encampments can be blamed on the severe shortage of pitches available to Gypsies and Travellers, which is recognised nationally. Throughout the UK local authorities have been asked to provide more pitches for sites to house both ‘permanent’ groups and transit sites where travellers can camp for a few days or a few months.
Work to identify possible sites is underway in Warwickshire as elsewhere. The work is at an early stage but providing more pitches will result in fewer unauthorised encampments and trespasses by Gypsy and Traveller groups, improved safety and access to services for these communities, and better cohesion and understanding between traveller and settled communities.
The Warwickshire County Council Gypsy & Traveller Service along with local authority and other partners were recently recognised for their work with an award from Warwickshire Racial Equality Partnership for ‘outstanding support for a race equality project’.