Government says discrimination against black people and Travellers ‘objectively justified’ with new laws – The Independent

‘Discrimination against black people and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in a controversial suite of new laws is “objectively justified”, the government has claimed.’

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The Independent, 13th September 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ofcom accused of institutional racism over Dispatches Traveller episode – The Guardian

Posted September 2nd, 2021 in codes of practice, complaints, media, news, racism, travellers by sally

‘The Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) community has accused Ofcom of institutional racism over a decision to clear a controversial Channel 4 documentary about Traveller crime.’

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The Guardian, 1st September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police bill risks criminalising homeless people, warn UK charities – The Guardian

‘Leading homelessness charities have made an unprecedented joint plea to UK ministers to reconsider the police and crime bill, warning it could in effect criminalise large numbers of people simply for being homeless.’

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The Guardian, 8th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Elections and compulsory photo ID – what effect will it have on Gypsies and Irish Travellers? – Each Other

Posted May 21st, 2021 in bills, elections, equality, human rights, identification, news, travellers by tracey

‘At the annual Queen’s Speech last week, the controversial Electoral Integrity Bill was announced. If passed, it means that voters will need to produce a valid form of photo ID when they cast their vote. The government rationale behind the legislation is to secure trust and prevent fraud in UK voting systems. It is thought the legislation will be in place by next year. Despite being routinely practiced in many countries, including Northern Ireland and the United States, this type of legislation has been criticised for deterring voters and, more problematically, disenfranchising poorer, minority and elderly voters. This is due to the fact that procuring approved forms of identification can be expensive and time consuming.’

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Each Other, 20th May 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

LB Barking and Dagenham & Ors v Persons Unknown & Ors [2021] EWHC 1201 (QB) – Radcliffe Chambers

‘On 12 May Nicklin J handed down judgment in LB Barking and Dagenham & Ors v Persons & Ors [2021] EWHC 1201 (QB), in which Traveller Injunctions and the issue of whether final injunctions against Persons Unknown bind only the parties to the proceedings and not ‘newcomers’ was considered. Caroline Bolton and Natalie Pratt appeared on behalf of eight of the Claimant Local Authorities.’

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Radcliffe Chambers, 13th May 2021

Source: radcliffechambers.com

Blanket bans on camping by Gypsies and Travellers ruled illegal at high court – The Guardian

Posted May 13th, 2021 in equality, injunctions, local government, news, travellers by sally

‘The high court has ruled that local authorities can no longer issue blanket bans on Gypsies and Travellers stopping on parcels of land, in a landmark case which campaigners have hailed a “victory for equality”.’

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The Guardian, 12th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

A Traveller’s Way Of Life Could Be Criminalised – Each Other

Posted April 20th, 2021 in bills, human rights, news, police, travellers, young persons by sally

‘The recent Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill has an insidious wording which would criminalise the lives of Travellers up and down the United Kindom.’

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Each Other, 19th April 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Court of Appeal upholds length of sentences for planning breaches – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 18th, 2021 in coronavirus, news, planning, sentencing, suspended sentences, travellers by sally

‘Eight people who committed repeated breaches of planning permission and court orders while trying to establish a site in Basildon have had their sentences confirmed after failing to convince the Court of Appeal that their punishments were too severe.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 18th March 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Local Authority and Children’s Guardian fail in appeal against judge’s refusal to support a plan of adoption for children aged 2 and 3: T and R (Refusal of Placement Order) [2021] EWCA Civ 71 – Transparency Project

‘T & R involved an appeal against a decision to refuse to approve a plan of adoption in respect of two children, T (a 3 year old boy) and R (a 2 year old girl) and accordingly, refuse to make placement orders.’

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Transparency Project, 15th February 2021

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Hate targeted at Gypsy, Traveller and Roma linked to rise in suicides – report – The Guardian

Posted December 10th, 2020 in hate crime, news, reports, suicide, travellers by tracey

‘Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities are experiencing hate incidents on an almost daily basis, while mental health issues and suicide are leading to an “epidemic of needless deaths”, a government-funded report has found.’

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The Guardian, 10th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Traveller families win court battle over living on land they own – BBC News

Posted October 27th, 2020 in appeals, housing, local government, news, planning, travellers by sally

‘Six Traveller families have won a High Court appeal against a decision which would stop them living on land they own in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire.’

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BBC News, 27th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘It Wasn’t A Choice For Me’: The Gypsy, Roma And Traveller Campaigners Fighting Prejudice – Each Other

Posted July 30th, 2020 in children, minorities, news, racism, school exclusions, travellers by sally

‘“I was just sick of there being so many low expectations about Travellers,” said former teaching assistant Lisa Smith, on what set her on her path to campaign for the rights of the UK’s Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) children.’

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Each Other, 29th July 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Man wrongly detained over murder of PC Harper to sue police – The Guardian

‘An innocent man who spent weeks in prison accused of murdering PC Andrew Harper before proceedings against him were dropped is taking legal action against the police.’

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The Guardian, 25th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court to hold hearings on encampment injunctions this month – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 7th, 2020 in injunctions, local government, news, planning, travellers by sally

‘The High Court is this month due to hold hearings in relation to two high-profile injunctions against unauthorised encampments.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 6th July 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Unfurnished temporary accommodation – is it suitable? – Nearly Legal

‘A judicial review where the relevant parts played out in the early stages of the pandemic lockdown, and where the central question was whether self contained accommodation provided without a fridge, cooker and bed, was suitable within the meaning of section 206 Housing Act 1996, such that interim relief could be ordered.’

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Nearly Legal, 28th June 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Universities Investigate Adverts On Channel 4 Show That ‘Dehumanised’ Traveller Community – Each Other

‘Three universities are investigating how their adverts appeared on a Channel 4 documentary accused of “dehumanising” the Traveller community.’

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Each Other, 11th June 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Interim injunctions against persons unknown – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 14th, 2020 in anonymity, injunctions, local government, news, travellers by sally

‘As George Harrison once sang: ‘All things must pass.’ So while protesters, trespassers and others may now be quietly isolated (keyboard activism apart), normal life will eventually resume – and with it will come the need to restrain any unlawful or other anti-social behaviour.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th May 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Court of Appeal provides guidance on “borough-wide” injunctions – No. 5 Chambers

‘Bromley LBC had secured a without notice interim injunction in the High Court which prohibited encampment and entry/occupation in relation to all accessible public spaces in the Borough except cemeteries and highways. These amounted to 139 parks, recreation grounds or open spaces, and 32 public car parks. Although the injunction was against “persons unknown”, it was widely understood that the injunction was aimed at the Gypsy and Traveller community.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 12th February 2020

Source: www.no5.com

Green Space borough-wide preventative injunctions: the view from the Court of Appeal – Local Government Lawyer

‘Steven Woolf examines the Court of Appeal’s recent decision and guidance on Green Space borough-wide preventative injunctions.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th February 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Property Newsletter: January 2020 – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted February 6th, 2020 in chambers articles, injunctions, landlord & tenant, news, travellers by sally

‘In this month’s newsletter Daniel Gatty considers airspace, subsoil and rights of first refusal, in an article in part taken from his recent book, A Practical Guide to Rights over Airspace and Subsoil, available to purchase: here.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, January 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk