Communities and Local Government
A selection of images representing communities.
Direct contact 020 7944 4400- contactus@communities.gov.uk
- Housing
- Social housing management
- Gypsies and Travellers
- Introduction
Introduction
Who are Gypsies and Travellers and where do Gypsy and Traveller communities live? What is the Government doing to help Gypsies and Travellers and the settled community live peacefully?
Gypsies and Irish Travellers are recognised ethnic groups under Race Relations legislation.
Romany Gypsies have been in England for over 600 years and Irish Travellers also have a long history of nomadism in this country. New Travellers also form part of the travelling community. The majority of Gypsies and Travellers in England live in caravans on local authority managed or private sites, with a smaller number living in caravans on unauthorised sites.
Unauthorised sites are of two types - unauthorised encampments (where Gypsies and Travellers are parked unlawfully on land not belonging to them) or unauthorised developments (where they own the land but have established a site without the required planning permission).
To tackle the problem of unauthorised sites, the Gypsy and Traveller Unit was established by (what is now) Communities and Local Government in May 2005 with the key objectives of:
- increasing site provision for Gypsies and Travellers in line with need
- ensuring effective use of enforcement powers (including ASB powers where appropriate) against unauthorised encampments
- minimising unauthorised developments and the problems they cause
- identifying key priorities for action with other Government Departments to tackle inequalities in service provision experienced by Gypsies and Travellers
The multidisciplinary unit brings together housing and planning functions, and includes a regional implementation team to support action on the ground. The team works closely with the Government Offices for the Regions and has a dedicated presence in the Eastern, South East and South West regions, where the issues are greatest.
The unit aims to reduce tensions between Gypsies and Travellers and the settled population, particularly in relation to delivering increased provision for Gypsies and Travellers, while at the same time ensuring proper use of enforcement powers against unauthorised encampments and developments. The unit is also working to ensure that local authorities and other public agencies fully understand their roles, powers and responsibilities and will act on them even-handedly to promote the best interests of the whole community.
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