Today, Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) and Community Law Partnership (CLP) are launching a free short guide on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.
The pocket-sized booklet, which can be seen here, aims to support Gypsies and Travellers in understanding the new police powers relating to roadside camps.
As the Policing Act comes into force on the 28 June, it is important that anyone currently living or planning to live roadside understands their rights under the new law.
The booklet is set in a Q&A format for easy reference and answers questions such as:
- What is the new law?
- Are roadside camps now illegal?
- What happens if I don’t leave when asked to?
If you’d like to order a physical copy for free, click here. Please make sure to include an address in the email.
FFT will also be running workshops with CLP on the new powers and the impact on travelling. The first session will be held on Tuesday 14 June 2022. To register, apply for a place here.
The Policing Act 2022 represents the biggest assault on Gypsy and Traveller communities in decades – introducing a new criminal offence for ‘trespass’, and strengthening police powers against roadside camps.
Speaking about the pocket-sized guide, Abbie Kirkby, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Friends, Families and Travellers said:
“As the Policing Act 2022 is rolled out from the 28 June, it is extremely important that anyone who may fall foul of the new law knows their rights.
The new law will capture some of the most marginalised Gypsy, Traveller and nomadic people, so it’s vital that steps are taken to prepare ahead of the law coming into force.”
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Notes for Editor
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.
Media Contact
Sami McLaren, Communications & Campaigns Lead
Tel: 07436 228910 Email: sami@gypsy-traveller.org
Relevant Resources
‘A short guide to the Policing Act 2022: What it means for Gypsy and Traveller camps’. Friends, Families and Travellers and Community Law Partnership. June 2022. View here or click here to order a physical copy (please include an address).
‘Policing Act Workshop: Understanding the new powers in the Policing Act and the impact on nomadism’. Friends, Families and Travellers and Community Law Partnership. June 2022. Register here.
Image credit: ‘ROMANO DROM: GYPSY NEWS’. Article: ‘Tell them we’ll never just vanish like the morning mist’ No. 1, Autumn 1976. Page 5.
