For Gypsy Roma Traveller month, Clinks Policy and Communication Officer  Marianne and Senior Policy Officer at The Traveller Movement Grace discuss the challenges within the criminal justice system. 

Across the UK, Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller communities face profound challenges, especially within the criminal justice system, but these challenges start long before their first interaction with the police - systematic inequities and bias can start as early as school.

Speaking to Grace, Senior Policy Officer at The Traveller Movement. We talked about the discrimination Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller people face from a young age. Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller children experience the highest rates of school exclusion across all ethnic groups. This early exclusion is not just a matter of individual cases but reflects broader systemic issues. As Grace explained, “Teachers often hold low expectations for these children, assuming they will leave school early to marry or join family businesses”. This assumption neglects the diverse aspirations within Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller communities and fuels a cycle of educational neglect and discrimination. Children frequently face bullying and virtual exclusion, which can lead to reactions that result in further disciplinary actions. Grace explained how this environment fosters a negative relationship with educational institutions, colouring their perceptions of public institutions and authority from a young age. This is further amplified for children in the care system. Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller children are more likely to have the police called on them, by care practitioners, resulting in contact with law enforcement at an incredibly young age. After being excluded and rejected from the system, Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller people often leave education without the skills they need.   

Grace explains the situation for Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller children in youth justice facilities, report feeling unsafe and disengaged from educational programs. They express a preference for work over formal education, which is often not supported by the system, further hindering their rehabilitation and integration.  

Policing practices further intensify these issues from Grace's perspective. “The Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Act has been criticised for criminalising traditional Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller ways of life, with unauthorised stopping”.  

Discriminatory Sentencing and Incarceration  

When Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller people enter the criminal justice system, they face significant biases in sentencing. Grace outlines that this is from systematic injustices coupled with a lack of disaggregated ethnic data, it is challenging to outline the exact disparities, but anecdotal evidence and community reports indicate that Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller people are more likely to receive custodial sentences over community-based alternatives. The inequality that Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller people face continues despite the potential benefits of diversion programs and alternative sentencing, which are underutilized for these communities.  

Community Initiatives and Advocacy  

Despite the disparities that Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller people face, voluntary organisations are actively making a difference to people's lives. The Traveller Movement and Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) along with other Clinks members are working to address these inequalities through policy advocacy and educational initiatives. The Traveller Pre-Sentencing Report Toolkit, for example, aims to provide probation officers with the necessary context to understand Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller backgrounds better mitigating discriminatory practices in sentencing.  

Voluntary organisations in criminal justice are challenging discriminatory legislation and practices in courts, striving for reforms that acknowledge and respect the traditional lifestyles of Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller communities. These initiatives highlight the importance of culturally sensitive approaches and the need for systemic change to address the deep-seated biases within the criminal justice system.  

 Check out the Traveller Movement General Election Manifesto 

Image credit: Clinks conference 2023 - Ian Cuthbert