Protests against Proposed Amendment to Unauthorised Encampment Law in the UK

22 July 2005

Accodording to a BBC report of November 8, 2005, the organisation Traveller Movement NI in Northern Ireland warned that new legislation over unauthorised encampments would criminalise Travellers. The draft Unauthorised Encampments (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 gives the police power to direct people who camp illegally to leave land and remove vehicles. Those who refuse to comply may have their vehicles seized and face imprisonment and a fine of up to 2,500 British pounds (approximately 3, 750 Euro). But because there are no transit sites, there will be no authorised areas for Travellers to be moved on to. Traveller Movement NI warned. "This legislation will be criminalising the Traveller population in Northern Ireland," the group said.

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, an independent public body, issued a response to the draft Unauthorised Encampments in December of 2004 outlining several concerns including:

• The likelihood that criminalisation of unauthorised camping would further extend and reinforce the widespread social exclusion experienced by the Traveller community whilst there is insufficient provision of legal and culturally appropriate accommodation options.
• The categorisation of unauthorised camping as a criminal offence likely having a particularly adverse impact on Travellers who receive a criminal record as a result of contravening the legislation.
• The absence of any reference to provision of training for police officers in the implementation of the new Order or anti-racist or cultural awareness raising.
• The adverse impact of the legislation on Traveller women and their domestic responsibilities, particularly for those women who are pregnant or have recently given birth.
• Disrupted access to education and healthcare.

The Commission recommended that the proposed legislation be abandoned.

(BBC, ERRC)