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Press Releases
Shameful housing conditions for Roma communities in Glasgow,
Radio 5 Live investigation finds
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Eastern European immigrant communities in Glasgow are increasingly living in slum conditions, a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 5 Live investigation has found.
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The 5 Live investigation discovered thousands of Slovakian Roma immigrants to the Govanhill area of the city since 2004 are living in poverty and sub-standard housing.
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In some cases, large families are squeezed into flats with only one or two bedrooms, and since families are unable to apply for housing benefits as many have been UK residents for under a year, many are caught in a damaging cycle of poverty. Μύ
The investigation also found that this has led to building resentment in the local community as locals feel that
over-crowding is dragging down the quality of life in the area, leading to a "them and us" mentality gaining momentum.
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The situation in Govanhill is further exacerbated by the fact that Glasgow City Council has no control over slums as they are privately let, leading to a spiralling of the problem.
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Constable Stevie Scott, Govanhill Diversity Police Officer, said: "In the year 2007 you come into a property in Glasgow that is like a ghetto, it is shocking. The thought of living in these places makes you shudder, this should not be happening today."
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A local Govanhill resident said: "The thing I feel most is that it is a strain on the resources. I don't think this area could hold anymore."
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Notes to Editors
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You can listen to 5 Live via digital radio, digital television, online at bbc.co.uk/5live and on 909 & 693 AM.
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The report was broadcast on 5 Live on Wednesday 14 November 2007 at 10.05am with presenter Phil Williams standing in for Victoria Derbyshire.
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