Today, a new summary report from Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) highlights the widespread failure of local authorities across the UK to provide safe, legal and accessible transit sites for Gypsy and Traveller communities, despite long–standing legal obligations and clear policy recommendations. The full report can be found here.
A Freedom of Information investigation found that 92% of local authorities have no transit provision at all, leaving families without secure places to stop and disproportionatelyvulnerable to eviction, discrimination and criminalisation under laws such as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.
FFT is currently campaigning for the repeal of Part 4 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.The report highlights a range of issues impacting the life outcomes and experiences of Gypsy and Traveller people, including:
- Serious discrepancies in official data;
- Confusion over responsibilities between councils; and
- Inconsistent site fees and conditions from site to site.
The report sets out a series of recommendations, including increased funding, clearer guidance, and a repeal of harmful legislation.
On the original research, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Friends, Families and Travellers, Abbie Kirkby said:
“These shockingly low levels of transit site provision make it abundantly clear that families are being failed nationally.
As well as the low level of provision of Gypsy and Traveller sites, in the few places where transit sites do exist, access is restrictive, due to a lack of transparency on the availability and costs of a pitch.
This data should act as an urgent wakeup call – we hope to see the Government using the current planning reforms as an opportunity to increase and improve Gypsy and Traveller site provision and stopping places.”
The original research was supported by the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales, whose Policy andNational Programmes Manager, Caroline Gentiles added:
“Gypsy and Traveller people face a disproportionately high level of inequality, and not having access to transit sites is a significant factor. Not only does a lack of access to transit sites have a wide-reaching impact on Gypsy and Traveller communities, but it also incurs higher costs for the government due to the need for expensive emergency interventions.
We must have a more joined-up approach to transit sites to support people from Romany Gypsy and Traveller communities to access the support needed.”
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About Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT)
Friends, Families and Travellers is a leading national charity that works to end racism and discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and to protect the right to pursue a nomadic way of life.
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Additional Resources
‘Freedom of Information research: Local authority transit provision for Gypsies and Travellers across the UK’. Friends, Families and Travellers. November 2024. View report.
