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Gypsies: Current Policies and Practices*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2009

Barbara Adams ,
Judith Okely ,
David Morgan  and
David Smith
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Abstract

This article describes current policies and practices in relation to English Gypsies and a study of Gypsies by participant observation. While governments in the past have always sought to prevent the Gypsies from travelling, local authorities have been equally concerned to prevent camping or settlement in their district. Despite the Caravan Sites Act 1968, which makes the provision of caravan sites mandatory, many authorities are reluctant to fulfil their obligations. By June 1974, pitches for little more than a quarter of Gypsy families had been provided. Harassment of travelling families who have no legal place to which to go persists.

The evidence suggests that the Gypsies are a cohesive ethnic group with membership based primarily on descent. They are not drop-outs from house-dwelling society and they maintain their separation by intent. They have a viable economy based mainly on scrap breaking and it seems likely that travelling, which facilitates their work, will persist. Though some Gypsies wish to settle, many do not.

Several short-term policy changes are proposed, requiring a more flexible and varied approach to accommodation for Gypsies. The hope is that Britain might ultimately become the first country to permit Gypsies their own separate way of life, travelling or settled by choice.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Social Policy , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , April 1975 , pp. 129 - 150
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

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References

1 The terms Traveller and Gypsy are used interchangeably.

2 Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Gypsies and other Travellers, London: HMSO, 1967Google Scholar; S.O. Code no. 75–192.

3 Ibid., p. 46.

4 Adjournment debate on the A41 problem. Hansard, 9 05 1973.Google Scholar

5 Mills, v Cooper, , Queens Bench Division, 9 03 1967.Google Scholar

6 Exempted County Boroughs at February 1974 were: Barrow in Furness, Bath, Birkenhead, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Brighton, Burnley, Burton on Trent, Canterbury, Carlisle, Eastbourne, Grimsby, Hartlepool, Hastings, Northampton, Portsmouth, Reading, Rotherham, Southend, South Shields, Southport, Sunderland, Solihull, Torbay, Tynemouth, Wallasey.

7 Designated areas at June 1974 were: Barking, Bolton C.B., Bury C.B., Croydon, Greenwich, Havering, Leeds C.B., Lincoln C.B., Manchester C.B., Merton, Newham, Oxford C.B., Plymouth C.B., Redbridge, Richmond-upon-Thames, St Helens C.B,. Stoke on Trent C.B., Sutton, Waltham Forest, Wolverton C.B.

8 Sandford, Jeremy, Gypsies, London: Seeker and Warburg, 1973.Google Scholar

9 Ingrid, and Trankell, Arne, ‘Problems of the Swedish Gypsies’ Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 1968.Google Scholar

10 Data on the situation in Czechoslovakia have been kindly supplied by Willy Guy.

11 More recent counts relate to Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Leicestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Surrey, Warwickshire, Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Solihull, West Bromwich, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Eton R.D.C.

12 Acton, T. A., Gypsy Community Work 1972, The Gypsy Council, 1973.Google Scholar

13 The Times, 19 05 1972.Google Scholar

14 Gentleman, H. and Swift, S., Scotland's Travelling People, Edinburgh: HMSO, 1971.Google Scholar

15 Marris, Peter, Loss and Change, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1974.Google Scholar